On August 26, 2025, the Society of American Foresters commented on Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins’ Memorandum. The memo proposes the reorganization of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the “consolidation, unification, and optimization of functions within the Department [USDA] to achieve improved effectiveness and accountability, enhanced services, reduced bureaucracy and cost savings for the American people.”

The reorganization proposal reflects the Administration’s expressed commitment to “relocate federal agencies beyond the national capital region, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen USDA’s presence in key agricultural regions across the country.”

Commenting on the proposed reorganization plan, SAF emphasized two critical points to Secretary Rollins:
1) US Forest Service regional offices are essential to effective forest management, serving as an integral link between national priorities and local realities, while also advancing collaborative research and conservation initiatives, and fostering trust with the communities that depend on forests. SAF raised concerns the elimination of regional offices could have significant negative impacts to the agency’s effectiveness.
2) Relocation of Forest Service staff to new hub locations, in addition to recent workforce reductions through the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and Volunteer Early Retirement Authority (VERA), risks losing experienced professionals whose institutional knowledge is essential to upholding agency operating capacity and regional expertise in effective forest management

 In alignment with our national position statements on forest sector research and development, advancing shared stewardship on federal, state, tribal, and private lands, and sustainability of American forests, SAF reiterated our support for the preservation and advancement of the forest sector through continued collaborative management and shared stewardship of forestland, and sustained support for forestry research and development. 

SAF will use this comment to underscore the indispensable role of regional expertise, research, and collaboration in safeguarding the long-term health and sustainability of our forests and our nation. We encourage you to share it within your networks and incorporate it into your own outreach efforts.

*The public comment period has been extended to September 30, 2025.

Read SAF’s comment HERE.