TRUCKEE/TAHOE

The March 31 announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service, calling for a move in headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as “sweeping restructuring of the agency,” is not expected to impact regional divisions.

Moonshine Ink contacted both the Tahoe National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit offices, and received the same response:

“USDA’s announcement includes no changes for forest or district offices or their staffing. The [Tahoe National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit are] committed to ensuring that all operations — including wildfire readiness and response — continue without interruption. The Forest Service’s fire readiness and response remain unchanged, and our operational firefighters and aviation resources continue to support wildfire response.“

The move places “leadership closer to the lands they manage,” as noted by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in the USDA press release, and shifts from a regional model to a state-focused one.

“Under the new model, 15 state directors will be distributed throughout the country to oversee Forest Service operations within one or more states,” continued the press release. “State directors will serve as national leaders with primary oversight of forest supervisors, operational priorities, and relationships with states, tribes, and other partners. Each state office will include a small leadership support team responsible for functions such as legislative affairs, communications, and intergovernmental coordination.”

Placerville will serve as the location for California’s operational service center, based on existing workforce, operational needs, proximity to resources, and more.

The announcement comes just over a year after 10% of Forest Service staff were laid off, on Feb. 14, 2025, and its lingering impacts. 

~ AH