World's largest forest research agency faces severe cutback by Trump administration

"“Overwhelmed.” “Saddened.” “Crushed.” “Demoralized.” That's how some former and current scientists at the US Forest Service feel as the agency weighs closing dozens of its research sites. The list includes facilities that support research at woodlands designated as experimental forests, some of which have supported active, longitudinal research for more than a century."

"“irreplaceable. You can't say, 'Okay, I lost that one. I'm going to go start another 70-year study,'” says a recently retired forest-service scientist. (They requested anonymity to protect ongoing research collaborations with agency staff.)"

"If a large number of sites are closed, many research projects would be more difficult, if not impossible, according to nearly two dozen former forest-service scientists and six of their collaborators who spoke to Nature. These researchers also say that uncertainty over job reassignments could drive scientists to leave the agency, and that the proposal is the latest blow to an organization that, over the past 18 months, has already lost hundreds of employees in the R&D branch and cut back its scientific work."

"Forest-service officials justify the proposal by pointing to the agency's vast stock of neglected infrastructure and the low occupancy of some sites, and say that its science won't be affected. “The intent of the reorganization is to maintain the research,” US Forest Service chief Tom Schultz told Congress in April."

Former and current US Forest Service scientists report being overwhelmed, saddened, and demoralized as the agency considers closing dozens of research sites. Some facilities support woodland research designated as experimental forests and have enabled longitudinal studies for more than a century. Scientists say these locations are irreplaceable and cannot be replaced by starting new long-term studies. They warn that closing many sites would make numerous research projects more difficult or impossible, and that uncertainty about job reassignments could lead scientists to leave the agency. Forest Service officials cite neglected infrastructure and low occupancy at some sites, and state that the reorganization aims to maintain research, though concerns remain about broader consequences.

Read at Nature