U.S. Forest Service to Shutter Over 50 Research Stations

Closures threaten long-term studies on wildfires, drought, and climate change impacts on forests.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:05pm

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An abstract, highly structured painting in muted earthy tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conveying the complex interconnected systems of a forest ecosystem.The closure of over 50 Forest Service research stations threatens to disrupt vital scientific work on the environmental pressures facing America's forests.Fort Collins Today

The U.S. Forest Service announced plans this week to close 57 of its 77 research facilities across 31 states, a move that will consolidate the agency's research division into a centralized office in Fort Collins, Colorado and force many scientists to relocate. The closures will impact long-running studies on the effects of wildfires, drought, pests, and global warming on forests.

Why it matters

The Forest Service research stations play a critical role in monitoring the health of America's forests and investigating the impacts of climate change and other environmental threats. The planned closures threaten to disrupt decades of important scientific work and could lead many researchers to leave the agency, hampering its ability to provide data and guidance to policymakers.

The details

Under the reorganization, the Forest Service will move its headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah, affecting 260 employees. Many of the research facilities set to close are located at universities or experimental forests where scientists have access to specialized equipment and can monitor environmental changes over long time periods. The closures will impact six stations in California, five in Mississippi, four in Michigan, and three in Utah, among others.

  • The Forest Service announced the reorganization plan this week.
  • The agency plans to consolidate its research division into a centralized office in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The players

U.S. Forest Service

A federal agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for managing and protecting national forests and grasslands.

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The takeaway

The planned closure of over 50 Forest Service research stations will severely disrupt critical long-term studies on the impacts of climate change, wildfires, and other environmental threats to America's forests, hampering the agency's ability to provide science-based guidance to policymakers.