Senate Appropriations subcommittee reviews Forest Service budget, critics warn of 75% USFS cut impact

The Senate Appropriations Committee's Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee held a separate hearing on the U.S. Forest Service budget request. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz testified as critics warned the proposed cuts would reduce the agency's budget by 75 percent, severely limiting its ability to manage forests, conduct fire suppression, and maintain recreational infrastructure. (Senate Appropriations, Apr. 30, 2026)