The Trump administration announced plans Tuesday to relocate the U.S. Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of a broader restructuring effort that will also consolidate operations and close facilities across dozens of states.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the move is intended to position agency leadership closer to the land it manages, with nearly 90% of National Forest System acreage located in the western United States. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz emphasized that land stewardship is best handled “on the ground,” rather than from offices in the nation’s capital.

The relocation, expected to be completed by summer 2027, will shift roughly 260 positions from Washington to Utah, while about 130 employees will remain in place. Officials cited Salt Lake City’s lower cost of living, transportation access, and regional proximity to public lands as key factors in the decision.

The overhaul also includes closing research and regional facilities in 31 states and centralizing research operations in Fort Collins, Colorado. Additional service hubs will be established in states including New Mexico, Georgia, Wisconsin, Montana, Colorado, and California. The agency has not yet clarified how many employees outside Washington may be required to relocate or whether layoffs will occur.

The move mirrors a similar effort during Trump’s first term, when the Bureau of Land Management was relocated to Colorado before being returned to Washington under the Biden administration. Officials say the current restructuring is part of a broader push to reduce bureaucracy and streamline federal operations.

Supporters, including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, called the decision a win for western states and argued it will improve responsiveness to issues such as wildfire management and land use. Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy also backed the move, saying it would lead to more informed, locally grounded decision-making.

Despite the restructuring, agency officials said there will be no changes to frontline firefighting personnel, as the Forest Service continues to prepare for what could be another challenging fire season.