Feb 28, 2025 Story by: Editor
The chief of the Forest Service announced on Wednesday that he will be stepping down, expressing his “frustration” over staff reductions implemented during the Trump administration.
In a resignation letter shared online, Forest Service Chief Randy Moore stated that he will be leaving the agency on Monday.
Moore’s letter conveyed his frustration over reports of mass layoffs at the forest management agency.
“The past several weeks [have] been incredibly difficult. As part of a broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government, we parted ways with colleagues we worked alongside who successfully contributed to our mission, and who were valued members of our Forest Service team,” he wrote.
“If you are feeling uncertainty, frustration, or loss, you are not alone. These are real and valid emotions that I am feeling, too,” he added.
Moore also noted in his letter that the decision to dismiss these employees was made “at a level above our organization.”
Appointed by President Biden in 2021, Moore has led the Forest Service since then. Before that, he served as the Pacific Southwest regional forester from 2007 to 2021.
The Forest Service, which operates under the Department of Agriculture, is responsible for managing national forests. In his letter, Moore also highlighted the agency’s role in supplying drinking water to 80 million people and granting leases for oil and gas drilling.
Source: The Hill
