USDA to move Forest Service Headquarters to Salt Lake City
News Team
SALT LAKE, Utah (KIFI) — In a landmark shift for federal land management, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Tuesday that the Forest Service will move its national headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah.
The USDA stated the move aims to place agency leadership closer to the forests and communities they oversee, especially in the West, where nearly 90% of Forest Service lands are located.
The move is a centerpiece of the administration’s broader effort to decentralize federal agencies. USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins emphasized that the relocation is essential to the agency’s core mission.
“Moving the Forest Service closer to the forests we manage is an essential action that will improve our core mission while saving taxpayer dollars and boosting employee recruitment,” Rollins said.
Utah leaders call it a big win for the state and say it will boost jobs and speed up decisions on issues like fire management and forest health.
“This isn’t symbolic. It means better, faster decisions on the ground,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “Everyone who depends on our public lands, from hikers and campers to ranchers and timber producers, will benefit. Moving away from a regional model to a more state-focused approach strengthens federalism.”
While the move is celebrated in the West, critics warn the relocation could strip the agency of experienced staff unwilling to move and hamper its access to Congressional leadership and the appropriations process, potentially impacting long-term funding.
The USDA expects the relocation to be fully complete by Summer 2027.