Oregon Forest Service Workers Won’t Be Forced to Move to Washington State for Now, Judge Rules

Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has ruled against a move by the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to shut down its regional office in Portland.

On October 13, the judge ruled that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) cannot force employees to relocate to new, smaller headquarters in Salem and Olympia, Washington State, while a lawsuit challenging the reorganization is in progress.

Judge Chhabria issued a preliminary injunction blocking parts of the reorganization plan, and ruled that the USDA likely violated a congressional spending restriction by reprogramming funds without proper authorization.

The same ruling also blocked the Forest Service from moving its national headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City.

A Permanent Staff of 246 is Estimated to be Employed in the Portland Office

Although the exact number of employees in Portland is unclear, the Salem Reporter estimates that 246 permanent full-time staff, mostly scientists, work at the Portland research station. They would have to relocate or commute 47 miles in each direction daily.

Regional Forester Jacqueline Buchanan heads Portland’s Region 6 Office, which manages 16 million acres of public land in the Beaver State.

The USDA has announced it will file a response to the judge’s ruling after reviewing the decision.

USDA Says Restructure Will Reduce Red Tape, Operational Costs, and Agency Bloat

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has previously stated that the closure and restructuring of nine regional offices will move operations closer to the landscapes and people they serve.

It will also cut down red tape, reduce operational costs and agency “bloat,” and provide employees with a more affordable cost of living.

The plan has been challenged by a coalition of unions, cities, conservation groups, and nonprofits. They argue that the USDA is violating congressional rules on federal funding expenditure. However, according to Outside Magazine, the spending restrictions expire on December 11, 2026.