Partnership for Public Service statement on relocation of U.S. Forest Service headquarters

April 1, 2026

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from President and CEO Max Stier in response to the Trump administration’s decision to reorganize and relocate the U.S. Forest Service headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City:

“Agency relocations do not create more effective or efficient government. When agencies were relocated in the first Trump administration, they cost the taxpayer more, resulted in productivity declines and led to delays in critical services to the public.

“These relocations do not bring our government closer to the people it serves. In fact, nearly 87% of the federal workforce is already working nationwide outside of Washington, D.C. Our founders set up a capital with the seat of government for good reason: It is common sense to have the leadership of federal agencies co-located so they can work better together.

“Based on what history has shown us, this decision is another method to reduce headcount. Relocation and reorganization efforts typically result in many employees – especially experienced career agency leaders – choosing to resign over uprooting their lives, leaving agencies understaffed and unprepared to deliver on their missions to serve the public. What’s more, our recent Public Service Viewpoint Survey found that the Forest Service is already ill-equipped to weather such a drastic disruption. Nearly half of employee respondents reported that the agency was worse at delivering quality services compared to a year ago.”  

“It’s easy to create new organizational flowcharts and sign new office space leases. But what the American people really want is a government that works, regardless of location. We urge Congress to use their constitutional oversight powers to better understand the Forest Service’s new plans and how they will impact the agency’s ability to serve the public.”

The Partnership recently published results from the proprietary Public Service Viewpoint Survey to understand the state of federal employee engagement and its impact on effective service delivery at the Forest Service and other federal agencies. Learn more here. 

Check out the Partnership’s Government for a New Era Initiative to learn more about our efforts to engage Congress and other partners to help develop reforms for a more effective, responsive and accountable government.

During the past 25 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees.     

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