The Forest Service Wants to Hear from You About its Staffing and Reorganization Plan

Photo credit: Patrick Hendry

Since February, the USDA has shed more than 16,000 employees (source). Now it is offering the public a chance to comment on its ongoing reorganization and staffing plans before the end of the month.

On August 1, 2025, Secretary Rollins announced a reorganization plan for the Department of Agriculture and initiated a 30‑day public comment period for stakeholders to weigh in.

This plan comes on the heels of mass terminations and resignations starting in February that have fundamentally reshaped the agency. The USDA has lost critical staff at the Forest Service who do recreation planning, trail restoration, wildfire mitigation, and conservation planning, among other work.

 Outdoor Alliance has been working to mitigate how these significant layoffs will jeopardize vital conservation and public lands work, including things like implementing the bipartisan EXPLORE Act. The proposed reorganization risks further erosion of mission‑critical capabilities at the Forest Service.

 The agency is accepting public comments until August 26, and this is a key opportunity for the outdoor community to weigh in about the future of the Forest Service. Everyone who cares about forests, trails, wildlife habitat, and resilient public lands can speak up during this public comment window to strengthen how the USDA stewards our public lands.