Trump Administration Plans to Move Forest Service HQ to Utah, Shutter Research Sites

The restructuring will close a research facility in Clemson, South Carolina as part of a broader consolidation effort.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:41pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An oil painting in the style of Edward Hopper depicting a lone Forest Service truck parked on a winding mountain road, with the vehicle and surrounding landscape bathed in warm, dramatic lighting and deep shadows.The planned relocation of the Forest Service headquarters to Utah raises concerns about the agency's ability to effectively manage public lands during a time of growing environmental challenges.Salt Lake City Today

The Trump administration has announced plans to move the U.S. Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah as part of an organizational overhaul. The restructuring will also involve shuttering research facilities in 31 states, including a facility in Clemson, South Carolina. The administration says the moves will bring Forest Service leadership closer to the landscapes they manage and the communities they serve.

Why it matters

The decision to relocate the Forest Service headquarters and close regional research facilities has drawn criticism from environmental groups who view it as an attempt to weaken federal oversight and give more power to states and corporations to exploit public lands. Supporters argue the changes will improve responsiveness and decision-making, but opponents warn it could lead to less access to public forests and threats to wildlife habitat, clean water, and air.

The details

The Forest Service plans to move about 260 positions from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City by 2027, while 130 workers will remain in the capital. The agency cited Salt Lake City's reasonable cost of living, proximity to an international airport, and 'family-focused way of life' as factors in the decision. The restructuring will also involve closing regional offices and consolidating research at a single location in Fort Collins, Colorado. One of the research facilities slated for closure is in Clemson, South Carolina.

  • The Forest Service headquarters move is expected to be completed by summer 2027.
  • The Trump administration previously moved the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Colorado in 2019, but the Biden administration later reversed that decision in 2021.

The players

Brooke Rollins

Agriculture Secretary who announced the Forest Service restructuring.

Tom Schultz

Forest Service Chief who said the move will bring leaders closer to the landscapes they manage and the people who depend on them.

Stephen Vaden

Deputy Agriculture Secretary who said Salt Lake City was chosen for its reasonable cost of living, proximity to an international airport, and 'family-focused way of life.'

Spencer Cox

Republican Governor of Utah who celebrated the Forest Service headquarters move as 'a big win for Utah and the West.'

Taylor McKinnon

Southwest Director at the Center for Biological Diversity, who described the move as 'a costly bureaucratic reshuffle' that will put more power in the hands of corporations and states to log, mine and drill public lands.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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 plans to complete the headquarters move to Salt Lake City by summer 2027. In the meantime, the agency will be shuttering regional offices and consolidating research operations, which could lead to staff relocations and potential layoffs, though details remain unclear.

The takeaway

The decision to move the Forest Service headquarters to Utah and close research facilities across the country is a controversial one, with supporters arguing it will improve responsiveness and decision-making, while critics warn it could weaken federal oversight and give more power to states and corporations to exploit public lands. The restructuring comes at a time when the Mountain West is facing challenges like drought, extreme heat, and dangerous fire seasons, raising concerns about the timing of such a major organizational upheaval.