SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Forest Service announced a large-scale reorganization earlier in 2026. This plan includes moving the Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City and closing nine existing regional hubs to open 15 state-specific offices, primarily in the Western states.

Tom Schultz, Forest Service chief, stated, "Ultimately it's about smarter government." He added, "What this looks like is: to be leaner, more efficient and closer to the public that we serve." Schultz also said, "There are no layoffs," though he noted, "There will be some directed reassignments."

A coalition of federal employee unions, municipalities, and nonprofits filed a lawsuit against the administration in June 2026 to block the reorganization. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege the reorganization is a politically motivated downsizing effort. Corinne Johnson, a partner at Altshuler Berzon, stated, "Congress, not the president, still determines the mission and functions of federal agencies created by statute, and Congress has repeatedly drawn the line to say no to workforce reductions." Johnson added, "The actions of this administration to reorganize USDA are a ruse for forcing employees to quit because they work on programs — like feeding low-income women and children, protecting our forests, or scientific research — that this administration opposes for political reasons." She described this as unlawful.

The lawsuit is an addendum to an earlier lawsuit against workforce cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency. The lawsuit's memorandum claims the Forest Service lost 6,000 employees in 2025 as part of job reduction efforts. An internal USDA document from April 2025, submitted with the lawsuit, states the intention to reduce the federal workforce. The document indicated, "USDA is anticipating that a significant number of employees will decline geographic reassignments." The lawsuit's memorandum also states that a June 1, 2026, letter from USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Vaden to Congress confirms that the purpose of forced relocations is to reduce the agency's workforce. The lawsuit contends that "an agency that provides a public explanation that contradicts its own internal rationale runs afoul of the (Administrative Procedure Act's) requirement to provide a reasoned explanation." It also claims, "The disjunction between USDA's private rationale and public explanation alone renders the reorganization plan arbitrary and capricious."

Why It Matters

This reorganization represents a shift for the Forest Service, including relocating its headquarters and decentralizing its regional structure. The move and the new office placements could alter the agency's operational focus and employee distribution. The legal challenge from federal employee unions and nonprofits indicates a dispute over the stated purpose and potential effects of these changes on the agency's workforce and its ability to fulfill its mission.