Facing South: “There are 31 National Forests in Southern states covering 13.6 million acres. For every 1% reduction in forests in the Southeastern U.S., water treatment costs increase by 1.7%.
Under Trump’s ‘reorganization’ plan announced March 2026, 57 of the Forest Service’s research facilities will close — 74% of the total. In Mississippi alone, 5 will shutter. All nine regional offices will be closed. The agency already lost 5,860 staff in the first half of 2025 due to DOGE cuts.
The ‘roadless rule,’ adopted with bipartisan support in 2001 to protect 58 million acres from roads and development, currently shields 600,000 acres of Southern National Forest land. That protection is now under direct assault.”