US EditionFears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose hundreds of employees
- Several agencies managing the Columbia River Power System are losing hundreds of employees, causing understaffing at key hydroelectric dams like Grand Coulee in Washington as of May 2025.
- The staffing reductions stem primarily from federal orders under President Donald Trump that cut probationary employees, froze hiring, and incentivized early retirements, though spending has not decreased overall.
- The Bonneville Power Administration , Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, and others collaborate to operate 31 dams supplying over half the Northwest's hydropower but face critical staff shortages affecting reliability.
- U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright testified that BPA has lost 290 jobs, representing nearly 10% of its workforce, and indicated that staffing levels have reached a critical low point, with no further reductions feasible.
- Leaders including Scott Simms advocate for federal incentives like retention payments used by agencies such as the FAA to attract skilled workers necessary to maintain and improve the hydro system.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose hundreds of employees • Washington State Standard
Construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington began in 1933 and was completed in 1942. It is the largest hydropower producer in the U.S. and also part of the federal Columbia River Power System. (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation)Grand Coulee Dam is among the most powerful energy-generating dams on earth. It’s the bedrock of the federal Columbia River Power System — a network of 31 dams supplying more than half of the hydropower in th…
Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose 100s of employees
Staffing cuts across Grand Coulee Dam and other federal hydropower agencies are raising concerns about grid reliability in the Pacific Northwest. Utility leaders warn that long-term damage could result from ongoing worker shortages.
Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose hundreds of employees - Salem Reporter
Grand Coulee Dam is among the most powerful energy-generating dams on earth. It’s the bedrock of the federal Columbia River Power System — a network of 31 dams supplying more than half of the hydropower in the Northwest. Grand Coulee alone, overseen by the federal Bureau of Reclamation, generates one-quarter of that. But critical operations at the dam are going understaffed following President Donald Trump’s orders, executed by the Office of Per…
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