U.S. Forest Service to close 23 research stations and move headquarters

The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research stations across more than a dozen states as part of an organizational overhaul under the Trump administration. The move aims to reduce costs and concentrate resources in Western states. While 41 other research facilities previously facing potential closure will remain open following concerns from Congress and local officials, the 95 employees at the slated stations will be relocated to other sites.

The reorganization includes moving the agency’s headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah, a transition expected to be completed by next summer. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated the move would bring leadership closer to the landscapes they manage.

Critics, including Senator Patty Murray and various conservation groups, have expressed concern that the changes could weaken the agency’s ability to manage wildfires and protect wildlife habitats. Specifically, the closure of facilities like the Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory in Seattle is cited as a risk to research regarding fire hazards and public safety warnings. Federal data indicates the Forest Service has lost approximately 6,000 employees, or 15% of its workforce, during the current administration's term.