ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with a sweeping reorganization that could reshape its research operations nationwide, including potential impacts in Asheville, though no specific closures have been confirmed.
Established in 1927, the Bent Creek Experimental Forest near Asheville is the oldest experimental forest in the eastern United States. Originally created to study the rehabilitation of cutover and degraded forests, the site now supports research on forest health, productivity and emerging environmental challenges.
The agency’s Asheville-based Southern Research Station is one of seven major research units in the Forest Service and functions as a headquarters-level entity overseeing research across the South.
While there has been no direct announcement that the Asheville station will close or relocate, federal officials say broader restructuring plans could still affect its operations.
“The number of relocations beyond those already identified in the National Capital Region is unknown at this time,” a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson said. “The transition will occur in phases. Employees will receive clear information about relocation timelines, available options, and resources to support their decisions.”
Under the plan, the Forest Service will consolidate its research enterprise — currently spread across multiple stations — into a single national Research and Development organization headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado. Officials say the move is intended to unify scientific priorities, streamline leadership and reduce administrative duplication.
As part of that shift, research facilities may be consolidated or co-located, and some leadership roles could move away from existing sites such as Asheville.
The reorganization is part of a broader effort by the USDA to relocate thousands of federal employees out of Washington, D.C., and into regional hubs across the country.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the changes are designed to bring federal agencies closer to the communities they serve while reducing costs.
The department plans to move about 2,600 employees, more than half of its Washington-based workforce, into five regional hubs: Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Forest Service will also relocate its headquarters from Washington to Salt Lake City, shifting top leadership closer to federally managed lands. The move is expected to be completed by summer 2027.
The changes come as part of a wider push by the administration of Donald Trump to reduce the size of the federal workforce and decentralize government operations.
Despite the restructuring, officials say frontline work — including wildfire response, forest restoration, recreation management and partnerships with states — will continue without interruption.
For now, the long-term future of Asheville’s Southern Research Station remains uncertain, with any potential changes expected to unfold gradually as the broader consolidation plan is implemented.