WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Forest Service will relocate its headquarters to Salt Lake City and overhaul its leadership structure, a move federal officials say is intended to bring decision-making closer to the lands and communities the agency manages.
What This Means for You
- Forest management decisions may be made closer to local communities and conditions
- Regional offices will close as authority shifts to state-level leadership
- Changes could affect wildfire response coordination, land use decisions, and timber policy
The relocation is part of a broader restructuring that replaces the agency’s regional model with a state-based system and redistributes administrative functions across the country.
Headquarters Move to Utah
The Forest Service will establish its new headquarters in Salt Lake City, placing top leadership closer to the western United States, where most federal forest lands are located.
Officials said the shift is intended to improve coordination with local stakeholders and align leadership with the areas most affected by forest management decisions.
“Moving the Forest Service closer to the forests we manage is an essential action that will improve our core mission,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Shift to State-Based Leadership
The agency will transition from a regional structure to a state-based model.
In practical terms, this means leadership authority will be organized around 15 state directors, each responsible for overseeing operations, managing priorities, and coordinating with state governments, tribes, and local partners.
Officials said the change is designed to simplify decision-making and give field leaders more flexibility to respond to local conditions.
Closure of Regional Offices
As part of the restructuring, all regional offices will be closed.
Their responsibilities will be redistributed to state offices and a network of operational service centers located in cities including Albuquerque, New Mexico; Athens, Georgia; Fort Collins, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; Missoula, Montana; and Placerville, California.
These centers will handle administrative and technical support functions, allowing field staff to focus on forest management and operations.
Research Consolidation
The Forest Service will also consolidate its research operations under a single national organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Currently, research is conducted through multiple geographically separate stations. The new structure is intended to unify priorities and reduce administrative duplication.
Wildfire Operations Unchanged
Officials said wildfire response operations will not be affected by the restructuring.
The agency’s Fire and Aviation Management program will continue operating under its existing national coordination system, based at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
Facilities and Transition Timeline
The restructuring will include a review and consolidation of facilities nationwide.
Some locations will be retained for specific roles, including a training center in Vallejo, California, and operational support centers in other regions.
The transition to the new structure is expected to occur over the next year, with additional phases planned as the agency completes the shift to a state-based model.
Agency Perspective
“This is about building a Forest Service that is nimble, efficient, effective and closer to the forests and communities it serves,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz.
Next Steps
The agency said it will provide guidance to employees and partners as the transition progresses, with core operations such as wildfire response, forest restoration, and recreation management continuing without interruption.
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