06/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2025 08:59
Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz is appearing on Capitol Hill to defend the Trump Administration's sweeping proposed budget cuts to the critical federal agency.
Since reclaiming the White House, the Trump Administration has taken a wrecking ball to staffing rosters and budgets at the land management agency, which oversees 193 million acres of national forests and public lands. In February, the administration fired approximately 3,500 workersas part of DOGE's chaotic mass layoffs. A further 4,000 workersaccepted hastily organized buyouts of USFS staff. In their proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, the administration proposed an additional $7 billion in cuts.
Thursday's hearing is the first appearance of new Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz on Capitol Hill since being picked for the role in March, which typically goes to a career employee within USFS. While an outsider to the Forest Service, Schultz is a longtime logging and timber industry insider. He previously served as vice president of resources and government affairs at Idaho Forest Group, leading timber procurement operations and managing relationships with government officials. He also served as the director of the Idaho Department of Lands, facilitating mineral extraction on millions of acres of public lands in the state.
In response, Anna Medema, Sierra Club's Associate Director of Legislative and Administrative Advocacy for Forests and Public Lands, released the following statement:
"When the Trump administration picked an industry insider to lead the Forest Service, it was clear what their approach to the agency would be - cut first, ask questions later, whether it's trees or budgets. It's easy to hand the keys over to DOGE and slash budgets and staff, but those cuts have consequences. Communities, wildlife, and landscapes rely on the Forest Service for forest management, wildfire preparedness, reliable drinking water, and more. Gutting its essential abilities puts American families at risk and paves the way towards privatizing this public heritage."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.