A group of Senate Democrats is raising concerns about a planned reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, warning it could weaken the agency’s effectiveness.
Led by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), alongside Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), 32 senators voiced objections in a letter criticizing the restructuring plan announced March 31.
“We write with strong concerns regarding the announced reorganization,” the lawmakers stated, warning that it “may lead to additional capacity and workforce reductions.”
The senators noted the Forest Service manages 193 million acres of national forests and supports hundreds of millions more acres of public and private lands.
They also cited a recent survey showing declining performance and warned that potential impacts to more than 6,500 employees could further erode the agency’s ability to meet its mission.
NAFB news service
Comments