USDA Forest Service to Relocate Headquarters to Salt Lake City

Agency transitions to state-based model amid major restructuring

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:49am

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is moving its headquarters to Salt Lake City and transitioning to a state-based organizational model as part of a sweeping restructuring of the agency. The changes are designed to bring leadership closer to the forests and communities the agency serves, simplify the chain of command, and strengthen local partnerships.

Why it matters

The Forest Service manages nearly 90% of its lands west of the Mississippi River, so relocating the headquarters to Salt Lake City and adopting a state-based model is seen as a strategic move to improve operational efficiency and responsiveness to regional needs. The restructuring also aims to reduce administrative costs and boost employee recruitment.

The details

Under the new state-based model, 15 state directors will be distributed across the country to oversee operations within one or more states. Regional offices will be closed, and many functions will shift to a network of operational service centers. The agency's research enterprise will also be consolidated under a single organization in Fort Collins, Colorado. While the headquarters moves to Utah, the Fire and Aviation Management program will remain headquartered at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

  • The USDA Forest Service announced the restructuring and headquarters move on April 1, 2026.
  • The state-based organizational model and operational service centers will be implemented over the next 12-18 months.

The players

USDA Forest Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture agency responsible for managing and protecting 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands across the United States.

Brooke L. Rollins

Secretary of the USDA and a key figure in the Forest Service restructuring.

Tom Schultz

Chief of the USDA Forest Service, overseeing the agency's transition to a state-based model.

Spencer Cox

Governor of Utah, welcoming the Forest Service headquarters move to Salt Lake City.

Jared Polis

Governor of Colorado, commenting on the decision to locate the Forest Service's research enterprise in Fort Collins.

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What they’re saying

“President Trump has made it a priority to return common sense to the way our government works. Moving the Forest Service closer to the forests we manage is an essential action that will improve our core mission of managing our forests while saving taxpayer dollars and boosting employee recruitment.”

— Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary of the USDA

“This is about building a Forest Service that is nimble, efficient, effective and closer to the forests and communities it serves.”

— Tom Schultz, Chief of the USDA Forest Service

“This is a big win for Utah and the West. Nearly 90% of Forest Service lands are west of the Mississippi, so putting leadership closer to the lands they manage just makes sense.”

— Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah

“Colorado is known for our outdoor spaces and nation-leading research institutions that are strengthening our forests and public lands, so it only makes sense that the U.S. Forest Service would include a location in our great state.”

— Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado

What’s next

The Forest Service will provide detailed transition guidance to employees and partners as the restructuring progresses. The state-based model and operational service centers are expected to be fully implemented within 12-18 months.

The takeaway

The Forest Service's move to Salt Lake City and adoption of a state-based organizational structure represents a significant shift in how the agency manages its vast public lands. By decentralizing leadership and bringing it closer to local communities, the Forest Service aims to improve responsiveness, strengthen partnerships, and ultimately better serve the needs of the forests and people across the Western United States.