Federal Update: Forest Services Announces Second Tranche of Secure Rural Schools Payments 

This week, the U.S. Forest Service announced the latest tranche of Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding, distributing $248 million to counties nationwide. Of that total, nearly $28.9 million will go to 28 California counties through Title I (roads and schools) and Title III (county projects), with an additional $2.6 million allocated to Title II projects on federal lands. 

This announcement builds on the February distribution of $182 million in retroactive SRS payments. In that earlier tranche, 28 California counties received nearly $30.9 million in Title I and Title III funding, along with more than $2.7 million for Title II projects. Together, these payments reflect the implementation of bipartisan legislation passed in December that reauthorized SRS for three years. 

SRS provides a critical funding stream for counties with significant federal forest land, which are unable to generate property tax revenue from those lands. These payments support essential local services, including road maintenance, school funding, wildfire mitigation, emergency response, and other county-led priorities. 

With this latest disbursement, SRS payments are now up to date. Looking ahead, the next – and final – authorized payment under current law is expected to be distributed in the spring of 2027. Absent further congressional action, counties could once again face uncertainty around this key revenue source. 

County-level payment details can be accessed here. 

House Republicans Introduce WIOA Reauthorization 

House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) recently introduced legislation – A Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 8210) – that would reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). 

The measure builds on bipartisan negotiations from the end of the last Congress, which ultimately stalled. While H.R. 8210 carries forward several elements from that earlier package, it also includes changes that have drawn Democratic opposition, most notably a provision to shift adult education and literacy programs from the U.S. Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Of note for counties, H.R. 8210 raises ongoing concerns around local control. The bill currently includes provisions that could limit local flexibility in administering WIOA funds and shift resources away from local workforce development boards. 

The Committee has not yet scheduled a markup, and no companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate. 

Forest Service Announces Major Reorganization Plan 

The U.S. Forest Service recently announced plans to relocate its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah, alongside a broader restructuring of the agency. While USDA has framed the changes as a way to streamline operations and better align leadership with on-the-ground forest management, many of the details – and potential impacts – are still evolving. 

The headquarters relocation is expected to occur by next summer, with roughly 260 positions moving out of Washington, D.C., and about 130 remaining. A key concern is that some experienced staff may choose not to relocate, potentially resulting in a loss of institutional knowledge and delays in backfilling critical roles, issues that could have downstream impacts on project delivery and intergovernmental coordination. 

As part of the reorganization, the agency will shift away from its current regional structure to a state-based model, with state directors overseeing operations, partnerships, and intergovernmental coordination. In California, a new state office is expected to be based in Placerville and would maintain responsibility for California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands, supported by an Operations Service Center. The existing Pacific Southwest Regional Office in Vallejo is expected to be repurposed as a National Training Center. 

In addition, the agency intends to consolidate its research functions under a single national organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado, with fewer, centralized research hubs. In California, several existing research facilities – including those in Anderson, Chico, Fort Bragg, Mt. Shasta, Hat Creek, and Fresno – are slated for closure, with operations expected to shift to larger hubs based in Placerville and Riverside. While the agency has emphasized that research capacity will be maintained, there are concerns about the potential loss of local expertise and reduced integration of science into day-to-day forest management. 

At this stage, there do not appear to be immediate, direct impacts to individual national forests. However, reduced staffing capacity due to recent terminations and deferred resignations, combined with the scale of the restructuring, could have longer-term implications for forest management, wildfire mitigation, and partnerships with counties and local stakeholders. 

USDA Finalizes Changes to NEPA Review Process 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized a significant update to how it carries out environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

The final rule streamlines USDA’s approach by consolidating multiple agency-specific regulations into a single framework and setting limits on the length and timeline of environmental reviews. Most environmental assessments will be capped at one year and 75 pages, while more detailed environmental impact statements are generally limited to two years and 150 pages. 

USDA officials say the changes are intended to reduce delays, lower administrative costs, and accelerate project delivery. The rule also makes broader changes to how reviews are conducted, including expanding the use of categorical exclusions (where full environmental review is not required) and narrowing the scope of analysis in certain areas. In addition, some updates may limit opportunities for public notice and comment on certain projects. 

Reactions to the rule have been mixed. Supporters view the changes as a way to streamline a process that can delay critical projects and increase costs. On the other hand, several environmental groups have raised concerns about reduced transparency, fewer opportunities for public input, and the potential for increased legal challenges or unintended impacts on natural resources. 

It should be noted that the rule applies only to USDA programs and does not change the underlying NEPA statute. 

Bipartisan Bill Targets Wildland Firefighter Pay and Fatigue 

Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) recently introduced bipartisan legislation –  the Support Our Firefighters Act – aimed at improving working conditions for federal wildland firefighters, as agencies continue to face staffing shortages and longer, more intense fire seasons. 

Specifically, the proposal would set minimum rest periods for firefighters following extended deployments and eliminate longstanding pay limitations that can reduce compensation during peak fire activity. 

Pursuant to the legislation, federal firefighters would be guaranteed paid time off after multi-week assignments (three days following a 14-day deployment and four days after 21 days in the field). The measure would also remove the current cap on total earnings from base pay, overtime, and hazard pay, which has historically limited compensation for firefighters working extended hours during major incidents.