Uncertainty Looms Over Juneau's Forest Service Lab Amid Agency Restructuring

The closure of the Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab and potential changes to the Juneau facility raise concerns about the future of forest research in Alaska.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:25am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a single-story forest research laboratory building surrounded by trees, bathed in warm golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of uncertainty and nostalgia about the facility's future.The uncertain future of Juneau's Forest Service lab casts a shadow over the agency's ability to support Alaska's national forests.Juneau Today

The U.S. Forest Service has announced a major national restructuring, including the closure of the Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab and potential changes to the Pacific Northwest Research Station lab in Juneau. While the agency's headquarters will move to Utah and the regional structure will shift to a state-based model, the specific details and timeline for the Juneau lab remain uncertain, leaving employees in a state of distress over the future of their positions and the agency's ability to fulfill its mission.

Why it matters

The Juneau lab is a critical facility for conducting forest research and supporting the management of Alaska's national forests, the Chugach and Tongass. The potential closure or relocation of the lab could significantly impact the agency's capacity to care for the land and serve the people of Alaska, especially as the state's Forest Service workforce has already been reduced by about a third in recent years.

The details

The Forest Service announced last week that it will be restructuring, with its headquarters moving to Utah and the existing regional structure being switched to a state-based model. As part of this reorganization, the Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab is set to close, and the future of the Pacific Northwest Research Station lab in Juneau is still unknown. In a letter to Juneau lab staff, Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz stated that their positions are 'subject to reorganization' and the specific details about whether the Juneau facility will close or remain open are still being determined.

  • The Forest Service announced the national restructuring last Tuesday (April 1, 2026).
  • The Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab is set to close as part of the reorganization.
  • The future of the Pacific Northwest Research Station lab in Juneau remains uncertain, with a decision expected within the next year.

The players

Tom Schultz

Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, who sent a letter to Juneau lab staff about the potential changes to their positions and facility.

Eric Antrim

Manages bridge inspections in Alaska's national forests and serves as the recording secretary for the National Federation of Federal Employees Local 251 union.

Steve Gutierrez

A national business representative with the National Federation of Federal Employees, the union that represents many Forest Service employees.

Lisa Bryant

A national press officer for the U.S. Forest Service.

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What they’re saying

“Your position is subject to reorganization, but it is unknown at this time if your duty station will remain in your current commuting area.”

— Tom Schultz, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service

“You don't know what's coming, you know, so it's hard to prepare yourself for it. You're just kind of in this constant state of distress.”

— Eric Antrim, Recording Secretary, National Federation of Federal Employees Local 251

“It's like an unofficial RIF because you're forcing people to move, and if people can't relocate, they ultimately have to resign.”

— Steve Gutierrez, National Business Representative, National Federation of Federal Employees

What’s next

The Forest Service has stated that the specific details about the future of the Juneau lab, including whether it will close or remain open, will be communicated to employees as soon as possible. The agency also has a duty to bargain with the union representing many Forest Service employees in the coming months.

The takeaway

This restructuring of the Forest Service, coming on the heels of a significant reduction in the agency's Alaska workforce, raises serious concerns about the future of forest research and management in the state. The uncertainty surrounding the Juneau lab's fate threatens to undermine the Forest Service's ability to fulfill its mission of caring for the land and serving the people of Alaska.