I know many of you enjoy Yumbini for camping or backpacking. While on the trail, have you ever seen a Forest Service sign? If you are like me, you might take the Forest Service for granted. But no more. The administration recently announced a Forest Service reorganization. It is massive, and some say it is not getting the attention it deserves.
What is the Forest Service, what do they do?
Part of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Forest Service manages 193 million acres of public land, national forests and grasslands. That is an area roughly the size of the entire state of Texas! They engage in land and forest management, wildfire management, conservation and science, research and recreation services.
The Forest Service manages 30,000 recreation sites across the entire 193 million acres. This includes 2,383 campgrounds within 155 national forests. Even if you only camp or hike occasionally, chances are you have enjoyed facilities maintained and protected by the Forest Service.
What are the changes?
On March 31, 2026, the USDA announced a Forest Service reorganization. The headquarters will move from Washington DC to Salt Lake City, 57 of 77 research facilities will close, and 800 scientists will be eliminated. The Forest Service budget, approved by congress, is $37 million less in 2026 than 2025.
These changes and staff reductions are already on top of major layoffs as part of DOGE last year.
Why is this Forest Service reorganization controversial?
While the official memo from the Forest Service, paints the change in glowing terms, others are less enthusiastic. This article from the New Yorker lays out the situation, claiming the changes make it easier for private takeover of public lands and guts important research.
And this Democracy Now YouTube interview with Jim Pattiz goes even further. He describes the Forest Service reorganization as “devastating” because valuable research and institutional knowledge will be lost. He further claims the reorganization is illegal because it was specifically forbidden in the appropriations bills approved by congress.
This PBS News Hour video gives more information. It points out that the 2027 Forest Service budget proposes eliminating research entirely, a dangerous idea considering climate change and wildfires.
And in her article in the WA State Standard, Tracy Stone-Manning claims moving the Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City to be closer to forests is a “political talking point, and it’s false.” She claims “cruelty and disruption are the real point” calling it a radical attack on our public land management agencies.
Importantly, she stresses: “There is one power to stop our public lands from being mismanaged to the point of selloff: It’s the outrage of the American people.”
What you can do
If you are concerned, contact your members of Congress. Calling is most effective. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Follow up by email to your Representative and Senators. And contact the Forest Service, or USDA directly.
