Trump Orders Forest Service Overhaul Closing 57 Research Sites Nationwide
The Trump administration has ordered a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. Forest Service, triggering debate over whether the changes amount to reform or a dismantling of the agency.
At the center of the plan are closures, relocations, and structural changes that critics say could weaken one of the nation’s largest land management systems.
According to SFGate and other outlets, the Forest Service will shut down 57 of its 77 research facilities across 31 states while consolidating operations in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The agency is also moving its headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City and shifting toward a state-based organizational model, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
But the scale of the changes is raising new concerns about staffing, wildfire readiness, and long-term forest research capacity.
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“This move could severely impair the agency’s effectiveness,” conservation advocates warned, according to SFGate.
The changes follow earlier workforce reductions that cut thousands of Forest Service employees, adding pressure to an agency already managing nearly 200 million acres of land.
Supporters argue the overhaul will streamline decision-making and bring leadership closer to western forests, where much of the agency’s work is concentrated.
Meanwhile, critics point to growing wildfire risks and say reducing scientific infrastructure could leave the U.S. less prepared for future disasters.
Implementation is expected to roll out in phases, with further details on staffing and timelines still pending.
The outcome could reshape how America manages its forests for decades.
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