Rollins says USDA is "full-bore ahead" on Forest Service overhaul despite court block
In short
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration remains "full-bore ahead" with its reorganization of the Forest Service and other agencies after a judge blocked it last week. The plan, which includes moving Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City, is stalled under a court order that is already under appeal.
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Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Thursday that the Trump administration remains "full-bore ahead" with a sweeping reorganization of the Forest Service and other agencies after a judge blocked the changes last week. [ 2 , 3 ]
Reuters reported in its headline that the farm secretary said the USDA reorganization, blocked by a judge, is "full bore ahead". [ 1 ]
"We are full-bore ahead in the reorganization," Rollins said during a conference call with reporters following an announcement on fertilizer production. "We believe in it more today than we ever have — taking the USDA to our constituents, which is rural America, the Forest Service out West." [ 2 , 3 ]
The administration wants to move Forest Service headquarters from Washington to Salt Lake City, shutter 23 research stations, and close many regional offices and replace them with state offices. It is part of a broader realignment at the Agriculture Department that would also change programs for food and nutrition, rural development and other services. Administration officials say the reorganization will trim costs and further concentrate resources in Western states that are home to nearly 90% of national forest lands. [ 2 , 3 ]
Federal employee unions, environmental groups and local officials, including in California, Maryland and Washington state, are trying to quash the plan. They say the shuffling of employees is a ploy to achieve the administration's goal of deep cuts in the workforce. [ 2 , 3 ]
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in California sided with those arguments in an Oct. 13 order halting the reorganization while a lawsuit from opponents works its way through the courts. "If implemented, the planned reorganization activities will likely put thousands of USDA employees to the choice of relocating far from their current home — often to a different state — or losing their job," Chhabria wrote. For now the plan is stalled under court order, but the order is already under appeal. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks indicate the administration is not dropping the plan while the court fight continues. Unions, environmental groups and local officials oppose it, so the outcome of the lawsuit and appeal will decide whether the changes proceed.
Key facts
- Rollins said the administration is "full-bore ahead" with the reorganization after a judge blocked the changes last week. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The plan would move Forest Service headquarters from Washington to Salt Lake City and shutter 23 research stations. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The plan would also close many regional offices and replace them with state offices. [ 2 , 3 ]
- U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in California halted the reorganization in an Oct. 13 order while a lawsuit works its way through the courts. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The court order is already under appeal. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Rollins spoke during a conference call with reporters following an announcement on fertilizer production. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the administration can proceed with the reorganization while the appeal is pending. The documents say the plan is stalled under court order and the order is under appeal, but give no timetable or ruling on the appeal.
- Whether the reorganization will cut costs as administration officials say. The cost claim is attributed to administration officials; opponents say the plan is a ploy to achieve deep workforce cuts.