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Forest Service to abandon nine regional offices

Pullman, WAGovernment

The U. S. Forest Service will close its nine regional offices in favor of five regional hubs, as outlined in a memo from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. This move is part of a broader effort by the Department of Agriculture to relocate key services away from Washington, D. C.

Rollins emphasized the intention to improve service delivery to the American public. However, former Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth expressed skepticism about the reorganization, highlighting the challenges of managing 120 national forests without regional leadership. The USDA plans to maintain a workforce of approximately 2,000 in the Capitol area, while consolidating duties in Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City. The memo also mentioned that 15,364 USDA employees had voluntarily resigned, indicating potential staffing issues. Experts worry that consolidating research stations may disrupt vital connections with local universities.

This restructuring raises significant questions about the future effectiveness of forest management in the U. S.

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