Judge halts US Forest Service plan that would move Oregon HQ to Salem

By Zach Urness
Statesman Journal
October 16, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

A federal judge temporarily blocked a sweeping plan to reorganize the U.S. Forest Service by moving its headquarters to Salt Lake City and closing nine regional offices — including one in Portland. U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria ruled Oct. 13 that the Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, cannot proceed with planned office closures or force employees to relocate while a lawsuit challenging its reorganization continues. …The Forest Service did not immediately address how the ruling would impact its plans. “The Department is reviewing the Judge’s decision and will file its response with the Court,” the federal agency said in a statement. …A coalition of unions, nonprofits, conservation groups and cities challenged the plans, arguing that the USDA was violating congressional rules on how federal funds can be spent. …The injunction is unlikely to completely derail the reorganization.

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