Forest Service Unveils Broad Reorganization, Moving HQ to Utah and Shrinking Research Footprint

The Forest Service unveiled a sweeping reorganization that would move its headquarters to Salt Lake City, shutter 57 of its 77 research facilities and all nine regional offices, and relocate hundreds of staff, with the agency saying it will press ahead even without Congress approval. The plan would affect thousands of employees—about 6,500 tied to the HQ move and 2,700 to closures—while a FY 2027 budget would cut roughly 800 of its 1,110 research scientist positions, prompting union and lawmaker concerns over details and staffing impacts. The agency argues the changes would shift resources toward on‑the‑ground forests, with some staff potentially absorbed by states or universities, and a related study on consolidating wildland firefighting across agencies is planned after prior congressional pushback.