Federal judge blocks U.S. Forest Service headquarters relocation

A federal judge has issued a preliminary ruling to halt a major reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service, which would have moved its headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that the Trump administration’s plan to dissolve nine regional offices and replace them with 15 state-based offices constitutes “reprogramming” that requires congressional approval. The judge noted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has “almost certainly been violating” restrictions on its ability to reorganize without congressional buy-in.

The proposed restructuring, described as the largest in the agency’s history, also included plans to close nearly two dozen research facilities and consolidate them in Fort Collins, Colorado. The order prevents the Forest Service from closing offices or reassigning employees until the lawsuit is resolved. The ruling follows legal challenges from labor unions, retirees, and environmental advocacy groups. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has been ordered to notify all employees of the stay within two days.