U.S. Forest Service Closes 23 Research Facilities in Reorganization
The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research facilities located in over a dozen states as part of a reorganization under the Trump administration. This initiative aims to reduce costs and consolidate the agency's resources in Western states, and also…
South Bend Elkhart, IN, September 3, 2026 — The U.S. Forest Service is undertaking a significant reorganization that includes the closure of 23 research facilities spread across more than a dozen states. This initiative, part of a broader plan initiated under the Trump administration, is intended to reduce operational costs and consolidate the agency’s resources, with a stated focus on Western states.
In addition to the facility closures, the reorganization plan involves relocating the U.S. Forest Service’s headquarters. The agency’s main office is slated to move from its current location in Washington D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah.
The stated objectives for this sweeping reorganization are twofold: to achieve cost reductions and to streamline the allocation of agency resources by concentrating them in geographically strategic areas, particularly in the Western United States. The specific timeline for the closure of the 23 research facilities and the relocation of the headquarters was not provided. The exact number of affected employees was also not detailed in the provided information.
The U.S. Forest Service is a bureau within the Department of Agriculture responsible for managing national forests and grasslands, which encompass over 150 national forests and 20 national grasslands. Its research arm contributes scientific knowledge to forest and grassland management, conservation, and utilization. The impact of these closures on ongoing research projects and the agency’s capacity to address national land management challenges was not specified.
Further details regarding the specific locations of the affected research facilities and the rationale behind their selection for closure were not made public. The agency’s move to Salt Lake City is presented as a measure to enhance its operational efficiency and align its administrative functions with its extensive land management responsibilities, especially concerning the Western territories.
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