Forest Service reorganization lawsuit filed
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria halted the Forest Service reorganization, ruling it likely violates federal spending law.
The stay holds until at least Dec. 11, when Congress's 2027 funding deadline arrives.
Background
The Forest Service, the federal agency that manages national forests and grasslands, sits under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA announced in July 2025 a plan to move the Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, close nine regional offices and consolidate 23 research facilities. When Congress passed the 2026 federal funding bill, it rejected the administration's proposed USDA cuts and added language barring funds from being used on reorganization. A coalition of labor unions, nonprofits and local governments sued, and Judge Vince Chhabria, a federal district judge for the Northern District of California, issued the order halting the plan.
How it unfolded
- Jul 2025USDA leaders announce the reorganization plan; the lawsuit says they did not get congressional approval.
- Mar 31, 2026Reports say the U.S. plans to move Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City.
- Apr 2026Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz tells the Statesman Journal the changes would cut bureaucracy and put decisions closer to the lands managed.
- Sep 2026A group of nonprofits, local governments and labor unions sues to block the plan as unlawful.
- Oct 13, 2026Judge Vince Chhabria issues an order halting the reorganization, saying it is "overwhelmingly likely" to violate Congress's express restriction.
- Oct 14, 2026A federal judge temporarily blocks the headquarters move to Salt Lake City, ruling it likely violates federal spending laws.
- Oct 15, 2026Reports on the ruling are published; the stay remains until at least Dec. 11, the deadline for Congress to approve 2027 fiscal-year appropriations.
- Oct 16, 2026Reports note the injunction disrupts plans to close the Portland regional office and open smaller headquarters in Salem and Olympia, Washington.
- Oct 20, 2026A report notes at least 6,000 Forest Service employees have been notified of mandatory relocations, according to the lawsuit.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz says a state-based model will build better relationships at state, tribal and county levels and produce better programs on the ground.
- Party
- Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, state Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz call the ruling a setback for common sense and responsible management of public lands.
- Support
- The plaintiff coalition calls the ruling a welcome reprieve from what it describes as a reckless, unlawful and disruptive reorganization of USDA.
- Caution
- The Coalition to Protect America's National Parks calls the ruling an important reprieve but says the fight continues as the case moves forward.
Still unverified
The two sides dispute the scale: plaintiffs say thousands of USDA employees would be forced to choose between their families and careers, while USDA officials estimated about 250 employees would be relocated. Opponents of the reorganization have also raised concerns that it aims to gut agencies rather than improve government efficiency.