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3mo ago

U.S. Forest Service Chief Retires Following Controversial Layoffs

Randy Moore steps down after a 45-year career as the agency faces backlash over 3,400 job cuts under Trump administration directives.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Capitol Hill, May 4, 2022, in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • Randy Moore, the first Black chief of the U.S. Forest Service, announced his retirement effective March 3, 2025, after leading the agency since 2021.
  • The Forest Service recently laid off 3,400 employees, approximately 10% of its workforce, as part of federal cost-cutting measures led by the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
  • Moore expressed frustration over the layoffs, stating that decisions were made at levels above the agency and acknowledging the emotional toll on employees.
  • Critics, including members of Congress, warn that the cuts could hinder the Forest Service's ability to manage 193 million acres of land and respond to escalating wildfire threats.
  • Tom Schultz, a former U.S. Air Force officer and executive at Idaho Forest Group, has been named as Moore's successor.