Trump Plans to Move Forest Service Headquarters to Utah, Shutter Research Sites

The administration says the move will bring leaders closer to the landscapes they manage and the people who depend on them.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:04am

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The Trump administration announced plans to relocate the U.S. Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of a broader organizational overhaul. The move will involve shuttering research facilities in 31 states and concentrating resources in the West. The administration says the change will put Forest Service leaders closer to the lands and communities they serve, but critics argue it will weaken the agency and empower corporate interests to exploit public lands.

Why it matters

The Forest Service headquarters relocation is the latest in a series of Trump-era efforts to decentralize federal agencies and shift power away from Washington. While proponents argue it will improve responsiveness, critics fear it could undermine the agency's mission and lead to reduced oversight and environmental protections on public lands.

The details

The Forest Service plans to move about 260 positions from Washington to Salt Lake City by 2027, while 130 workers will remain in the capital. The agency says the Utah location was chosen for its reasonable cost of living, proximity to an international airport, and the state's 'family-focused way of life.' However, environmental groups warn the reorganization could lead to more logging, mining, and drilling on public lands, as well as a loss of experienced personnel.

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

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who initiated the plan to relocate the Forest Service headquarters.

Brooke Rollins

The current Agriculture Secretary who announced the headquarters move.

Tom Schultz

The Chief of the U.S. Forest Service who said the move will bring leaders closer to the landscapes they manage.

Spencer Cox

The Republican governor of Utah who celebrated the headquarters move as 'a big win for Utah and the West.'

Taylor McKinnon

The Southwest director of the Center for Biological Diversity, who described the move as 'a costly bureaucratic reshuffle' that will empower corporate interests.

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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

“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, Center for Biological Diversity

“At a time when wildfires are getting worse, and access to public lands is already under strain, the last thing we need is an unnecessary reorganization that creates chaos and confusion for the land managers, researchers and wildland firefighters who help keep our forests healthy now and for future generations.”

— Josh Hicks, Conservation Campaigns Director, The Wilderness Society

What’s next

The Forest Service says it does 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 Forest Service headquarters move to Utah is the latest effort by the Trump administration to decentralize federal agencies and shift power away from Washington. While proponents argue it will improve responsiveness, critics fear it could undermine the agency's mission and lead to reduced oversight and environmental protections on public lands.