06/18/26
Western Governors praise adoption of state directors in U.S. Forest Service reform and reorganization
In correspondence with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Western Governors expressed their support for the recent decision to establish state director positions as the department restructures the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and moves agency leadership closer to the communities it serves.
“This state-based model will ensure strong communication between the agency and states and territories, and promote coordination on forest and rangeland management, recreational use, and wildfire mitigation and response,” read the letter of June 18, signed by WGA’s Chair, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, and WGA’s Vice Chair, Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green. “Western Governors are committed to working alongside the agency as we collectively navigate this transformational change.”