The U.S. Forest Service is relocating its headquarters to Salt Lake City, citing the move as a "sweeping restructuring" of the agency, the Agriculture Department said.
The agency's move from its current location in Washington, DC, to Utah's capital city is part of a broader strategy to place the forest service closer to the Western states that comprise the majority of the 193-million-acre forest system, the USDA announced March 31.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement that the relocation will improve the Forest Service's mission of managing its forests, saving taxpayers' money and boosting employee recruitment.
"Establishing a western headquarters in Salt Lake City and streamlining how the Forest Service is organized will position the Chief and operation leaders closer to the landscapes we manage and the people who depend on them," Rollins said.
"This includes supporting our timber growers across the country, including those in the Southeast, by prioritizing a regional office and promoting policies that boost timber production, lowering costs for consumers," Rollins added.
