Bennet Leads Colorado Democratic Delegation to Demand Information on U.S. Forest Service Reorganization

 Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls, and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here . M About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Map Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet Leads Colorado Democratic Delegation to Demand Information on U.S. Forest Service Reorganization Denver— Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, led the Colorado Democratic delegation in demanding information about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) that the agency announced on March 31, 2026. The USFS manages 16 million acres in Colorado, including the […] Jun 10, 2026 | Press Releases Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, led the Colorado Democratic delegation in demanding information about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) that the agency announced on March 31, 2026. The USFS manages 16 million acres in Colorado, including the nation’s most-visited national forest, the White River National Forest. These headwater forests provide water to 19 other states, support Colorado’s $18 billion outdoor recreation economy, and are critical range and wildlife habitat. The lawmakers request information about how this proposed reorganization will affect staffing, safe and effective public lands management, and the agency’s multiple-use mission, given the significance of USFS land management to our state and the country. “We share the questions and concerns raised by Coloradans regarding the timing of the proposed reorganization as we enter what is likely to be a severe fire season. Additionally, we believe that any major reorganization of an agency should include public participation and substantive Tribal consultation, which we encourage you to initiate as soon as possible,” wrote the lawmakers. Bennet has been a strong advocate for the National Forest System, wildland fire risk reduction, healthy forests and watersheds, access to outdoor recreation, and the USFS workforce. In March 2026, Bennet urged U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to prioritize proactive wildfire mitigation efforts in the West. In December 2025, Bennet urged Schultz to address persistent staffing shortages and mounting setbacks to wildfire risk reduction efforts across the West and the country. In September 2025, Bennet welcomed over $26 million in funding to reduce wildfire risk and protect vulnerable communities across Colorado. In February 2025, Bennet reintroduced the Protect the West Act , legislation to combat intensifying wildfires and drought across the West. In April 2025, Bennet and Hickenlooper urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reinstate the roughly 3000 USFS staff who hold Incident Qualification Cards, commonly called red cards, ahead of peak wildfire season. In February 2025, Bennet and Hickenlooper led their Colorado Democratic Congressional colleagues in urging Secretary Rollins to reinstate 3,400 USFS employees, including at least 90 in Colorado, after the agency enacted mass layoffs. That same month, Bennet also delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting the threats posed by this mass termination of USFS staff. The text of the letter is available HERE and below. Dear Secretary Rollins: We write to request information about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) that the agency announced on March 31, 2026. USFS manages 16 million acres in Colorado, including White River National Forest, the nation’s most visited national forest. These lands provide drinking water to four major river systems and 18 other states while supporting recreation, grazing, timber harvests, and multiple other uses. Given the significance of USFS land management to our state and the country, we would like to better understand how the proposed USFS reorganization will affect staffing, safe and effective public lands management, and the agency’s multiple-use mission. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that any USFS reorganization is carefully and thoughtfully executed. We also appreciate your choice of Fort Collins, a city already central to agriculture and forestry research and education, as a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hub. However, several Colorado communities have expressed concerns that the USFS reorganization may reduce staff retention, delay critical hazardous fuels reduction work, and disrupt critical permittin