U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten of Grand Rapids is demanding answers from U.S.D.A. Secretary Brooke Rollins after a sweeping restructuring plan that would close all nine regional offices nationwide and 57 of its 77 research facilities, including four in Michigan (Houghton, L’Anse, Wellston and East Lansing).
Scholten, a Democrat, raises concerns about increased wildfire risk, and impacts on local economies and tourism.
Federal officials responded to concerns by noting that moving headquarters from Washington DC to Salt Lake City, Utah, puts leadership closer to the 90% of Forest Service lands west of the Mississippi, where wildfire risk is highest.
They argue transitioning to a state-based model with 15 area directors allows for better, faster decisions and that the term “closures” mainly refers to buildings not programs with research continuing from fewer hubs.
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