Union leaders have accused the Trump administration of illegally restructuring the US Forest Service, warning that the overhaul will cause chaos and harm public lands. The plan, announced on 30 March, includes closing all regional offices, relocating headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake City, and consolidating 57 research facilities into one site in Colorado.
The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), which represents 20,000 Forest Service workers, argues that the move violates the fiscal year 2026 appropriations, which prohibit using funds to relocate offices or employees or reorganise programmes. 'Trump’s moves are illegal,' said Steve Lenkart, NFFE executive director. The US Department of Agriculture, which oversees the service, did not comment.
Employees face a stark choice: relocate or resign. Many work in rural areas and would be forced to move to cities. 'This is more than a reorganization,' said Steven Gutierrez, a former firefighter and union representative. 'For many employees, it feels like relocate or resign.' The union was given less than 30 minutes' notice before the announcement.
The agency has already lost hundreds of staff under the second Trump administration, including through early retirements and buyouts, reducing the full-time workforce by over a quarter. Some 1,400 wildfire-certified employees left. 'You don’t strengthen the Forest Service by pushing experienced public servants out the door,' added Gutierrez.
The NFFE’s national president, Randy Erwin, condemned the plan as chaos. 'The American public and our public lands will pay the price,' he said. The research conducted by the service into safety equipment, wood products and fire safety is now at risk.
