Trending Now - Trump Administration Shifts Forest Service HQ to Utah, Closes Research Centers

WHO:

AP News - President Donald Trump’s administration, U.S. Forest Service, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy, Taylor McKinnon (Center for Biological Diversity), Josh Hicks (The Wilderness Society), Sarah Fisher (Forest Service deputy chief of fire and aviation management).

WHAT:

Fox News - The U.S. Forest Service headquarters will move to Salt Lake City, Utah, and 31 research facilities will be closed.

AP News - Approximately 260 Forest Service positions currently located in Washington will relocate, while 130 workers will remain in Washington.

AP News - The reorganization will result in the closure of many regional offices, with services shifting to hubs in New Mexico, Georgia, Colorado, Wisconsin, Montana, and California.

AP News - The agency will consolidate its research at a single location in Fort Collins, Colorado.

WHERE:

Fox News - The new headquarters will be located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

AP News - The Forest Service currently has its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

AP News - The move is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

AP News - The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026.

WHY:

AP News - The move aims to bring leaders closer to the landscapes they manage and the people who depend on them.

AP News - The USDA has been moving employees out of Washington to slim down the federal workforce and improve efficiency.

AP News - Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden cited reasonable cost of living, proximity to an international airport, and a family-focused way of life in Utah as reasons for the move.

HOW:

AP News - The reorganization will involve closing regional offices and shifting services to designated hubs.

AP News - The Forest Service will anchor its research at a single location instead of maintaining multiple dispersed research stations.

(UPDATED April 1, 2026 17:19 UTC)

on Tuesday, President Trump announced that the U.S. Forest Service headquarters will relocate to Salt Lake City, Utah, with the closure of 31 research facilities and a significant reorganization of the agency. Approximately 260 positions will move from Washington, D.C., while 130 will remain, as services shift to new hubs in states like New Mexico and California, and research will be consolidated in Fort Collins, Colorado. The move, expected to be completed by summer 2027, aims to enhance efficiency and bring leaders closer to the landscapes they manage, with Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden highlighting Utah's reasonable cost of living and family-friendly lifestyle as key factors in the decision.