Oregon Lawmakers Express Concern About Portland Closure

USDA is looking at closing  the U.S. Forest Service’s Region 6 headquarters in Portland as well as the Pacific Northwest Research Station in Corvallis.

Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation sent a letter to Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins, expressing their concerns about the potential impact of these closures.  They said cutting 246 staff members will impact wildfire response and long-term scientific research; all while the Pacific Northwest faces record staffing shortages and escalating fire seasons.

Their letter said in part: "...shuttering any Oregon-based regional office undercuts locally rooted coordination, science, and management aligned with the unique ecological and social conditions of the Pacific Northwest in a forest economy state."

The lawmakers also told Rollins the USDA must provide additional details before the proposed changes are considered.

Click Here to read that entire letter sent to Secretary Rollins.

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