Tom Schultz

US Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz provided details to lawmakers Thursday on employees affected by the closure of its regional office in Milwaukee, as well as President Donald Trump’s budget that cuts 75 percent of the agency’s funding. Schultz fielded questions from members of a Senate appropriations subcommittee. Last month, the Forest Service announced it would close 57 research facilities in 31 states and close nine regional offices, including in Milwaukee. The agency is proposing to shift operations to Madison as one of six nationwide hubs. Wisconsin Democratic US Sen. Tammy Baldwin, noted she had written to Schultz about the Milwaukee office closure as Senate Democrats have demanded answers on the reorganization. Schultz told Baldwin. …“We are proposing to move this to Madison, where we have the existing Forest Products Lab. We think it’s a better location,” Schultz said. “There’s been discussions over the last 10 years to relocate from Milwaukee to Madison.”

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