Tom Schultz

Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz promised Wednesday to defer to congressional appropriators if they refuse the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to state and local forestry grants. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Schultz committed to spending the money Congress appropriates to state, private and tribal forestry programs — a routine process that’s become politically fraught in this administration. What would typically be an easy matter — disbursing funds as directed by Congress — has become a point of contention since the Forest Service last year diverted as much as $43 million from state and local grants to cover upfront costs of the agency’s broad staff reductions. Congress brushed off a similar cut the administration proposed for the current fiscal year, and lawmakers haven’t shown much appetite to slash funding to their states in fiscal 2027 either. Congress devoted $310 million to state, private and tribal forestry programs this year. [to access the full story a subscription is required]