# USDA Pursues Salt Lake City Reorganization

The Trump administration says it will continue reorganizing the U.S. Forest Service, including a proposed headquarters move from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, closure of 23 research stations, and replacement of regional offices with state-run offices. A federal judge halted the changes on October 13 amid a lawsuit and concerns about congressional limits on agency funding, leaving the reorganization’s implementation uncertain. No solicitation, contract award, or procurement value is identified.

- Contractors supporting Forest Service headquarters, regional offices, or research stations should reassess assumptions about work locations, access, and continuity of services; the proposed changes are not settled while the court halt is in effect.
- The proposed move and office closures could affect facilities, relocation, and support-service planning, but the signal does not identify funded requirements or open contracting opportunities.
- Companies pursuing or performing USDA work should distinguish announced organizational plans from approved procurement actions and avoid treating the Salt Lake City move as final.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Environment
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- U.S. Congress
- U.S. District Court in California

### Key Quotes
> Congress did not contemplate [the Agriculture Department] using its appropriated funds to shut down offices or relocate employees.
> — Vince Chhabria, U.S. District Judge

> Moving away from a regional model to a more state-focused approach strengthens federalism and helps the Forest Service do its job more effectively.
> — Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah

> We are full-bore ahead in the reorganization.
> — Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary

### Sources
- [Trump administration moves forward with Forest Service overhaul](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6167143-trump-forest-service-restructuring-agriculture-secretary) - The Hill