Trump Plans to Move Forest Service Headquarters to Utah

Overhaul will shutter research sites in 31 states, concentrate resources in the West

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:16am

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A serene, atmospheric painting of a remote Forest Service outpost nestled in a rugged, mountainous landscape, capturing the quiet contemplation and isolation of land management work.The relocation of the Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Utah raises concerns about the agency's ability to effectively manage and protect the nation's public lands.Washington Today

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 will involve shuttering research facilities in 31 states and consolidating resources in the Western U.S., where nearly 90% of National Forest System land is located.

Why it matters

The decision to relocate the Forest Service headquarters to Utah is part of the Trump administration's push to decentralize federal agencies and put top officials closer to the public lands they oversee. However, critics argue this will undermine the agency's policymaking role and threaten access to national forests, wildlife habitats, and other protected lands.

The details

About 260 Forest Service positions currently located in Washington, D.C. are expected to relocate to Utah, while 130 workers will remain in the capital. The move to Salt Lake City is touted for its reasonable cost of living, proximity to an international airport, and the state's 'family-focused way of life.' But environmental groups view it as a precursor to the agency's dismantling, warning it will empower corporations and states to log, mine, and drill on public lands.

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

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who initiated the plan to relocate the Forest Service headquarters.

Brooke Rollins

The current Agriculture Secretary who announced the Forest Service headquarters move.

Tom Schultz

The current Chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

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 at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group that criticized the move.

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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

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 power away from Washington, D.C. However, critics argue this will undermine the agency's policymaking role and threaten public access to national forests and other protected lands.