Forest Service Cuts Research Labs | Portland News

The U.S. Forest Service is slashing its research footprint, closing 24 facilities nationwide after initially targeting 50 — including Portland’s regional hub — while keeping labs in Seattle and Wenatchee. Driven by budget woes and soaring lease costs, the agency plans to relocate operations to cheaper locations like Salem, cutting expenses by two-thirds. Scientists and advocates warn of potential setbacks in wildfire and climate research, while lawmakers and the public pushed back on early closures. The move also includes shifting headquarters to Salt Lake City and eliminating regional offices in favor of state-level leadership — sparking debate over whether federal forests should be managed by states or remain under national oversight. Employees face uncertainty as sweeping changes ripple through the agency, raising questions about long-term stability amid promises of efficiency. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/caae839d2afa1129