Trump Administration Plans to Move Forest Service Headquarters to Utah

Overhaul also involves shuttering research facilities in 31 states and concentrating resources in the West

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:18am

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The Trump administration announced plans to move the U.S. Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah as part of a broader organizational overhaul. The move, expected to be completed by 2027, will also involve closing research facilities in 31 states and consolidating resources in the Western U.S.

Why it matters

The decision to relocate the Forest Service headquarters to Utah is part of the Trump administration's broader push to decentralize federal agencies and move more government operations out of Washington, D.C. However, environmental groups have criticized the move, arguing it will put more power in the hands of corporations and states to exploit public lands.

The details

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been moving thousands of employees out of Washington over the past year as part of Trump's push to slim down the federal workforce. With the Forest Service move, about 260 positions currently located in Washington are expected to relocate to Salt Lake City, while 130 workers will remain in D.C. The agency cited Salt Lake City's reasonable cost of living, proximity to an international airport, and the state's 'family-focused way of life' as reasons for the selection.

  • The move is expected to be completed by summer 2027.
  • The Bureau of Land Management was previously moved to Colorado during Trump's first term, but the Biden administration later reversed that decision.

The players

Brooke Rollins

Agriculture Secretary

Tom Schultz

Forest Service Chief

Stephen Vaden

Deputy Agriculture Secretary

Spencer Cox

Republican Governor of Utah

Taylor McKinnon

Southwest Director at the Center for Biological Diversity

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What they’re saying

“Effective stewardship and active management are achieved on the ground, where forests and communities are found — not just behind a desk in the capital.”

— Tom Schultz, Forest Service Chief

“Salt Lake City stuck out for its reasonable cost of living, proximity to an international airport and the state's 'family-focused way of life.'”

— Stephen Vaden, Deputy Agriculture Secretary

“National forests belong to all Americans. Our nation's capital is where federal policy is made and where the Forest Service headquarters belongs.”

— Taylor McKinnon, Southwest Director at the Center for Biological Diversity

What’s next

The Forest Service said it did not yet know how many workers in regional offices will need to relocate as part of the reorganization. A spokesperson did not answer whether the transition would involve layoffs.

The takeaway

The decision to move the Forest Service headquarters to Utah is part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to decentralize federal agencies and shift more power and resources away from Washington, D.C. However, environmental groups have raised concerns that this move could lead to increased exploitation of public lands by corporations and states.