The U.S. Forest Service is reorganizing. The federal agency will move their headquarters from Washington D.C. to Salt Lake City, closing over 50 research stations in 31 states, and will restructure management to rely on states more.

All these changes are coming while state GOP leaders and the Trump administration are pushing for the sale or transfer of federal public lands.

Montana voters of all backgrounds are loudly against this idea.

In Episode 26, you’ll hear from Stateline reporter Alex Brown, who has been covering all of the shifts within the Forest Service.

Then, you’ll hear from Mountain Ecosystems professor Rick Graetz, who led the University of Montana’s 2026 Voter Survey on Public Lands. He’ll break down how value misalignment between officials and voters on the issue of public lands could shift an election.

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer.

Click here for the full transcript.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:

• Forest Service shake-up will boost states’ role — but even supporters have concerns (Stateline)
• Republicans target public lands protections in a new way (Stateline)
• Survey: Montanans increasingly concerned over public land access, sales (Daily Montanan)
• A year post-DOGE, Wyoming forest workers still feel uncertainty and chaos (WyoFile)
• U.S. Forest restructuring could threaten Wisconsin-based research, advocates say (Wisconsin Examiner)

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com

Photo: Clouds hang over Lake Cushman, as seen from the mountains of the Olympic National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service has announced plans to close 57 research stations in 31 states. (Photo by Alex Brown/Stateline)