Oh Noes, Trump Is Dismantling The US Forest Service

It’s so terrible!

Gallego is a sitting US Senator. He doesn’t know? And we end up with articles like

The Trump Administration Is Killing The U.S. Forest Service So It Can Also Kill U.S. Forests

There’s lots and lots of crazy like that. But, of course, reality

US Forest Service agency headquarters moved to Utah as ‘sweeping restructure’ begins

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the beginning of a “sweeping restructure” of the U.S. Forest Service, beginning with the relocation of the agency’s headquarters from the U.S. capitol to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Moving the headquarters from Washington D.C. to the West aims to improve the agency’s core mission of managing U.S. national forests and grasslands, a USDA press release said.

“For an agency whose lands, partners, and operational challenges are overwhelmingly concentrated in the West, the shift represents a structural reset and a common-sense approach to improve mission delivery,” the press release announcing the agency restructuring said.

A goodly chunk of states west of the Mississippi are owned by the federal government (which is insane, but, separate commentary). Most of their mission is out west, hence, they should be out west, not in the District Of Columbia.

“This is a big win for Utah and the West. Nearly 90% of Forest Service lands are west of the Mississippi, so putting leadership closer to the lands they manage just makes sense,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. “This isn’t symbolic. It means better, faster decisions on the ground. Everyone who depends on our public lands, from hikers and campers to ranchers and timber producers, will benefit from this change.”

Makes sense

In the restructure, the Forest Service will transition to a more state-based organizational model, moving away from the regional model the agency has operated under since its formation.

All the agency’s nine regional offices will be closed, and under the new model, 15 state directors will be distributed throughout the country to oversee operations in one or more states.

So, better command and control, better work chains with employees closer to the actual work areas. No one is being fired, there is no reduction in workforce. They just have to move to different areas closer to work.

Under the restructure, 57 of the U.S. Forestry Services 77 research stations will be consolidated under a national Forest Service Research and Development organization in Fort Collins. The remaining 20 facilities will continue to serve the agency by supporting essential functions during and after the transition.

According to the USDA, the reorganization does not eliminate scientific positions, cancel research programs or reduce the national research footprint.

So, not being eliminated. Did Rubin consider asking the USDA/Forest Service about this? Placing a phone call to the head of USDA or Forest Service? Maybe going to their website and reading it? Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden could have given Rubi the necessary information. But, you know, Orange Man Bad makes some people wackadoodle. With the whole of the Internet at their fingers, perhaps they should do a 5 minute search before posting? Of course, they don’t care, many know the reality, but, their voters are unhinged and will believe the Crazy.