Judge halts plan to move Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City

A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration's plan to move the U.S. Forest Service's headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox had called the move a "big win" when it was announced in March. ^[1]

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria issued a stay barring relocations, closures and "reprogramming" at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its agencies, including the Forest Service, according to the Tribune. A coalition of unions, nonprofits and local governments had sued, arguing the administration never got the congressional approval required to reorganize the department. ^[1]

Chhabria wrote that Congress did not expect the USDA to use its funding to shut offices or relocate workers. He noted the spending laws expire in less than two months, giving the agency a chance to persuade Congress of its plans, the newspaper reported. Under the order, Washington-based employees can be moved to other offices in the D.C. area but cannot be forced to relocate to places like Utah. ^[1] The order, dated Oct. 13, bars USDA from closing offices or relocating Forest Service employees outside their local commuting area, and notes that the funding restrictions were extended through Dec. 11, 2026. ^[3]

The USDA told the court in September that about 2.1% of its workforce would have to move, and the department said that would include about 250 of the Forest Service's 33,500 employees, the Tribune reported. The plaintiffs said the reorganization would also close 23 Forest Service research sites in 15 states. ^[1] The order itself describes the USDA plan as including closing 23 Forest Service research facilities and cites the agency's estimate, as of Sept. 14, that at most 250 Forest Service employees would be relocated outside their local commuting area. ^[3]