Rep. Maloney Demands Reinstatement of USFS Employee Fired in Retribution for Reporting Sexual Assault

WASHINGTON, DC – Following yesterday’s hearing in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with United States Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen, Rep. Maloney requested a written response from Chief Christiansen on how the USFS will change and make better its system for handling workplace sexual assault and harassment.

In her letter, the Congresswoman points out that Shannon Reed was fired in retaliation to lodging a complaint of sexual harassment. The Congresswoman therefore requested in her letter to Chief Christiansen that “as you work to correct these problems at the US Forest Service, I strongly urge you to consider restoring Ms. Reed’s employment, if that is what she desires. It was made clear at the hearing today that Ms. Reed was forced out of her position unjustly and prematurely. Furthermore, having been a victim of both sexual harassment and the dysfunctional process after the fact, Ms. Reed is in a unique position to prevent other women from suffering the same abuse to which she was subjected.”

Full text of the letter is below and a PDF can be found here.

Dear Chief Christiansen,

Thank you for your testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today about the systemic mistreatment of women at the U.S. Forest Service. As this hearing made clear, for many women, the US Forest Service has not been a safe place to work. Women have been sexually assaulted by their coworkers or superiors, and then retaliated against for reporting the assault. That is intolerable, and even more so because that it is happening at a federal agency. It is incumbent upon you to rectify this situation as quickly as possible.

At the hearing, you committed to providing me a written response when asked for your thoughts about the concerns raised by Ms. Reed and more than 50 other women in a letter to you dated Nov 9, 2018. A copy of that letter is enclosed. The letter details horrific allegations of harassment, retaliation and injustice at the US Forest Service and I am eager to see your response to it.

Additionally, as you work to correct these problems at the US Forest Service, I strongly urge you to consider restoring Ms. Reed’s employment, if that is what she desires. It was made clear at the hearing today that Ms. Reed was forced out of her position unjustly and prematurely. Furthermore, having been a victim of both sexual harassment and the dysfunctional process after the fact, Ms. Reed is in a unique position to prevent other women from suffering the same abuse to which she was subjected.

Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated. Thank you.

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