USGA fires more than 500 employees.

Squeezed by ever tightening budgets, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has terminated almost one quarter of the staff in its geologic division. Known as a "reduction in force," or RIF, the firings will cut into almost all elements of the geologic division, which investigates earthquakes and other geologic hazards, assesses mineral and energy resources, and maps the geology of the nation, both on land and off shore.

USGS officials said the downsizing became necessary because years of restricted budgets had eaten away at its funds for conducting field research. "We've had at least a decade in which any [budgetary] increase we have had has not matched inflation," notes William Cannon, a USGS researcher who coordinated the RIF.

Over the past two years, the USGS had trimmed 400 jobs from the geologic division by offering "buyout" packages for employees willing to retire early. But the buyouts and other belt-tightening measures did not reduce costs enough, says Cannon. Because of budget constraints, the funding available for field work had dwindled to between 5 and 10 percent of the current budget, whereas 20 to 25 percent is needed for a healthy program, according to the USGS. "It was our last resort, but it was our only way of getting back in the business of doing the things we need to do," says Cannon.