Forest Service says it's closing offices to cut costs. The math doesn't add up
4 hours ago
- #budget cuts
- #research closure
- #Forest Service
- Forest Service announces reorganization to close research facilities and offices, citing fiscal responsibility, despite many facilities being owned or leased at minimal cost.
- Proposed 2027 budget allocates $0 for Forest Service research, down from $309 million in 2026, affecting over 100 facilities and 229 employees.
- Scientists argue closures disrupt hyperlocal, long-term research critical to forest management, wildfire prevention, and urban green spaces, risking loss of irreplaceable data and community partnerships.
- Employees threaten to quit if forced to relocate, predicting system collapse and damage to the agency's global research legacy, with union alleging reorganization violates funding laws.