The Forest Service said on Tuesday it will tighten its procedures after an inspector general’s report found its sexual harassment policies lacking. The report identified three instances in which supervisors did not explain adequately why they gave more lenient punishment than was agency policy for sexual harassment and sexual misconduct and at least two instances in which supervisors did not disclose an employee’s involvement in sexual harassment or misconduct. The audit, requested by Congress, looked at 11 cases in the Pacific Southwest Region of substantiated harassment and misconduct. The Forest Service is the USDA’s largest agency in terms of employment.
“The report confirmed persistent patterns of sexual harassment and misconduct and a failure of the USDA to address this abuse in multiple cases,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee and one of the lawmakers who requested the audit. “I intend to continue to use my oversight powers over the Department to ensure that the Inspector General’s recommendations are thoroughly implemented and that the culture of the Forest Service is changed once and for all.”
When she took office last October, Chief Vicki Christiansen, a Forest Service veteran, vowed “a safe and respectful work environment for everyone,” later explaining, “It means free from harassment and retaliation, and that everyone is valued.” Sexual harassment of women has been an issue in the agency for years. Christiansen’s predecessor resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct. A PBS NewsHour investigation found a “widespread culture of sexual harassment and misconduct within the agency, and retaliation against those who reported it.”
The inspector general’s office said the Forest Service generally agreed with its recommendations for changes in its operations.
“The findings provide valuable information so we can continue to take steps to take care of those who have been harassed, hold offenders accountable, provide training, continue to monitor, and improve the work environment to eliminate all forms of harassment,” said the Forest Service separately. “The recommendations will improve our processes to provide employee confidence, build internal capacity and ensure we are systemically and comprehensively addressing concerns within our work environment. These are critical issues that the Forest Service must continue to take on to increase our efforts to protect our fellow employees, so they have the assurance they can to speak up and speak out, without any fear of retaliation or reprisal.”
In four of the 11 cases reviewed by the inspector general, the penalty imposed for sexual harassment or misconduct was not as severe as listed in a USDA guide. “Though deviating from recommended penalties is allowed, in three of the cases, FS officials did not adequately document their justification,” said the report. Its description of the cases was redacted. The report recommended, and the Forest Service agreed, that managers must provide proper documentation.
In two, and possibly three, of the 11 cases, supervisors did not inform Forest Service hiring officials of an employee’s record of sexual harassment or misconduct. “These employees were later selected for supervisory positions in other regions. This occurred because hiring officials relied on reference checks with the employees’ former supervisors, who did not disclose the misconduct,” said the audit. It said the supervisors did not disclose misconduct when the hiring officials posed general questions about the workers’ records. The Forest Service said it would update guidance to managers about their duty to reply completely and accurately when asked for references and to find a method to provide the information without violating privacy laws.
The Forest Service, which manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands in 44 states and Puerto Rico, has a year-round workforce of more than 27,000 employees, roughly one-third of the USDA total. The Pacific Southwest Region employs 4,500 people. Seasonal employment by the Forest Service, including firefighters, tops 11,000.
To read the inspector general’s report, click here.