Forest Service chief defends agency’s largest reorganization in a century

The U.S. Forest Service is undergoing its biggest overhaul in a century, dissolving regional offices established by the agency's first chief, Gifford Pinchot, nearly 120 years ago. The reorganization has created 15 new state director positions, attracting around 300 applicants, indicating a significant public interest in the future direction of the agency. This major shift could redefine how the Forest Service manages national forests and addresses contemporary issues like climate change and land management, underscoring the importance of this transition in shaping environmental policy.