US Forest Service closing 23 research facilities as part of reorganization under Trump

The U.S. Forest Service is set to close 23 research stations across more than a dozen states as part of a cost-cutting reorganization under President Donald Trump, officials announced Thursday. The closures are intended to concentrate the agency's resources in Western states, according to Forest Service Associate Chief Chris French. While work at the research stations will continue at other locations, 95 employees will be transferred to new sites, officials said.

An additional 41 research facilities previously considered for closure will remain open due to lobbying efforts from local officials and members of Congress. French emphasized that the agency's primary objective is to control its facilities costs, stating that ongoing science activities and experimental forests crucial for researchers will not be affected.

The reorganization, which also involves relocating the agency's headquarters from Washington to Salt Lake City, is expected to save $16 million. This move, projected to be completed by next summer, will position agency leaders closer to the landscapes they manage and the communities they serve. However, conservation groups are expressing concerns that these changes may diminish access to forests, jeopardize wildlife habitats, and compromise clean air and water resources.