In a move that marks one of the most significant shifts in the geography of the federal government, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially announced on March 31, 2026, that it is relocating the headquarters of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to Salt Lake City, Utah.
This decision is framed by the USDA as a “common-sense” approach to forest management, placing the leadership of the nation’s 193 million acres of public lands closer to the vast majority of the territory they oversee—most of which lies in the Western United States.
For federal employees, however, the move represents more than just a change in zip code; it is the culmination of a decade-long effort to decentralize the “Washington-centric” model of federal governance.
The New State-Based Organizational Model
The centerpiece of this announcement is a radical departure from traditional federal hierarchies: the State-Based Organizational Model. According to the USDA press release, this model is designed to dismantle the top-heavy bureaucracy of the National Capital Region (NCR) in favor of localized autonomy.
Under the new structure, state-level directors will have significantly increased authority over budget allocations and management priorities. 15 state directors will oversee Forest Service operations nationwide, focusing on forest supervisors, operational priorities, and partnerships.
The USDA anticipates that this model will reduce response times for wildfire management and streamline the permitting processes for grazing and timber, which have long been points of contention between federal agencies and Western stakeholders.
As the agency transitions to a state-based model, the Forest Service will relocate many functions currently managed by regional offices to a network of operational service centers. These centers will be established in Albuquerque, NM; Athens, GA; Fort Collins, CO; Madison, WI; Missoula, MT; and Placerville, CA. Additional service center locations may be added as the transition progresses.
Locations were chosen based on the existing presence of the USDA workforce and infrastructure, operational requirements, efficiency, and proximity to agricultural and natural resource stakeholders.
Historical Echoes: The Road to 2026
This is not the department’s first foray into large-scale relocation, and past efforts offer a roadmap—and a warning—for what may lie ahead.
The Kansas City Precedent (2018–2019)
The blueprint for the Salt Lake City move was drafted in 2018, when the USDA announced plans to move hundreds of employees from the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) out of Washington. After a competitive selection process involving several finalist cities, the USDA signed a lease in Kansas City in late 2019.
While the agency at the time touted the move as a way to save taxpayer money and bring “government closer to the people,” the transition was not without controversy. Oversight reports later indicated some consequences of the moves:
- Mass Attrition: A 2022 GAO report revealed that both agencies lost more than half of their staff during the relocation, although agency workforce size and productivity largely recovered by September 2021.
- Loss of Expertise: The reports highlighted a “significant loss of institutional knowledge,” noting that ERS’s output of reports declined by about 50% between 2018 and 2020.
- Flawed Planning: An earlier 2022 GAO report found that the USDA omitted critical costs—specifically those related to employee attrition and disruption of activities—from its initial analysis.
The USDA Inspector General (IG) was also notably at odds with agency leadership over the legality and transparency of the move.
The IG said in its report at the time, “…the Department has not obtained Congressional approval, as required by Section 717(a) of the Omnibus Act, and has not complied with the reporting deadline requirement in Section 753 of the Omnibus Act.” USDA said, however, that it had the legal authority to move the agencies.
The 2025 Reorg Plan
The Salt Lake City announcement follows on the heels of a large-scale reorganization plan that proposed slashing Washington-based staff by over 50%. This plan signaled a definitive shift in policy: D.C. was no longer seen as the essential heart of the USDA but rather as an expensive bottleneck.
What This Means for Federal Employees
For the Forest Service employees currently residing in the D.C. metro area, this news represents a significant change. Historically, these relocations have often led to high attrition rates.
However, those willing to move may find a lower cost of living and a higher quality of professional life in addition to being closer to the land and communities served by the Forest Service.
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden said, “Having recently visited Salt Lake City, I am impressed by the modernized facilities, reasonable cost of living, proximity to an international airport, and more family-focused way of life.”
Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz stated, “Effective stewardship and active management are achieved on the ground, where forests and communities are found—not just behind a desk in the capital. Through this transition, we will strengthen our connection to the forests and the people who depend on them, while supporting our employees and honoring the dedication that has always defined our service.”
