The Forest Service says it's closing offices to cut costs. But the math doesn't add up

Article excerpt

The Forest Service announced plans to close research offices as part of a cost-cutting initiative, but the agency's logic appears contradictory: it plans to shut down facilities with minimal operating expenses while maintaining a $1 million annual rent facility. The decision has drawn scrutiny over whether financial constraints truly drive the closures or if other factors are at play. Critics argue the cuts could hamper the agency's research capacity during a period when forest management faces mounting challenges from climate change and wildfire pressures.