Chief Tom Schultz Details, Defends Largest Forest Service Reorganization in a Century
The agency said about 300 people applied for the 15 posts as it dissolves regional offices and shifts to a state-based model.
- The U.S. Forest Service received roughly 300 applications for 15 new state director positions created during a major agency reorganization dissolving regional offices established nearly 120 years ago by Gifford Pinchot.
- Workforce reductions of about 18% under the Department of Government Efficiency prompted the restructuring, while proposed funding for the National Forest System would fall by $438 million, or 24%, creating budgetary pressures.
- Chief Schultz plans to relocate headquarters to Salt Lake City, though only about 1% of the workforce will be asked to move; most of the 750 Washington office employees will remain remote.
- Whistleblowers warned Congress that mandatory relocations could impact as many as 1,900 employees, while unions called leadership's communication style "engineered vagueness" regarding specific changes.
- While the Western Governors Association pledged support for the state-based model two weeks ago, Bill Avey, chair of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees, worried the structure risks increased politicization of national forests.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Chief Tom Schultz details, defends largest Forest Service reorganization in a century
PARK CITY, UTAH—The U.S. Forest Service received roughly 300 applications for the 15 new state director jobs created during a major agency reorganization that’s dissolving regional offices the agency’s first chief, Gifford Pinchot, created nearly 120 years ago. That’s 20…
Forest Service chief defends agency's largest reorganization in a century
The U.S. Forest Service received roughly 300 applications for the 15 new state director jobs created during a major agency reorganization that’s dissolving regional offices the agency’s first chief, Gifford Pinchot, created nearly 120 years ago.That’s 20 applications per job, on average, for well-paying “senior executive service” positions at a federal agency that employs roughly 30,000 staff.
Yakima Herald-Republic
Forest Service chief defends agency’s largest reorganization in a century
PARK CITY, UTAH — The U.S. Forest Service received roughly 300 applications for the 15 new state director jobs created during a major agency reorganization that’s dissolving regional offices the agency’s first chief, Gifford Pinchot, created nearly 120 years ago.
Forest Service chief outlines agency’s largest reorganization in a century
Funding for USFS set to fall by 24% in fiscal year 2027. “Morale is horrendous” says a retired forest supervisor We need to talk: Forest Service Chief and former logging executive Tom Schultz has big news for some 6,500 agency employees who were informed in a letter that their job would be affected by coming reorganization. Photo: Preston Keres/USDA By Mike Koshmrl/WyoFile. July 6, 2026. The U.S. Forest Service received roughly 300 applications …
USFS chief defends largest reorganization in a century
The U.S. Forest Service received roughly 300 applications for the 15 new state director jobs created during a major agency reorganization that’s dissolving regional offices the agency’s first chief, Gifford Pinchot, created nearly 120 years ago. Continue reading…
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