The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a significant reorganization plan, including a major restructuring of the U.S. Forest Service, and is seeking public input through a 30-day comment period ending August 26, 2025. Announced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins on August 1, 2025, the plan aims to streamline operations, reduce bureaucracy, and relocate USDA functions from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs: Raleigh, NC; Kansas City, MO; Indianapolis, IN; Fort Collins, CO; and Salt Lake City, UT. Approximately 2,600 Washington-based positions will be redistributed to these hubs, and the USDA’s South Building will close.
A key component of the reorganization involves phasing out the Forest Service’s nine regional offices, which oversee 193 million acres of public land, over the next year. This move has raised concerns among experts, including former Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth, who question how the agency will manage 120+ national forests without regional oversight. The plan also includes consolidating seven Forest Service research stations to Fort Collins, potentially disrupting established university partnerships, according to retired University of Montana Forestry School Dean Jim Burchfield.
The USDA emphasizes that the reorganization aligns with President Trump’s directive to decentralize federal agencies, enhance efficiency, and maintain critical services like wildland firefighting. However, critics, including agency watchdogs and firefighters, highlight staffing challenges, noting the Forest Service’s struggle to rehire 1,400 qualified firefighters amid an already strained workforce.Stakeholders, including USDA employees, agricultural partners, and the public, are encouraged to submit feedback on the reorganization plan by emailing reorganization@usda.gov before the August 26 deadline. Your input can help shape the future of the USDA and Forest Service as they navigate this transformative process.
