Since day one, my work as Chief has been to refocus our efforts on the fundamental work that delivers the greatest good to the American people. As we begin this new year together, I want to talk directly with you about the priorities guiding us forward.

Our priorities reflect a back-to-basics approach that centers on the work we know matters most: keeping people safe, protecting communities from wildfire, actively managing our forests for health and productivity, supporting communities recovering after disasters, expanding access to the outdoors, cutting unnecessary red tape, and strengthening the partnerships that bolster our ability to deliver our mission-critical work.

Safety at the core: Safety must always be at the forefront of our minds, so let’s start there. Safety is the foundation of everything we do at the Forest Service. This includes making safety the first and last step of every operation—from fireline to fieldwork. Our work culture must be one of care, where safety goes beyond just avoiding injuries or accidents.

Wildfire readiness and response: To protect lives, property and forests, we will double down on wildfire readiness and rapid response via aggressive, coordinated response to keep fires small. We will focus our investment in interagency, contract, infrastructure and staff resources to match the reality of year-round fires and strengthen communities through partnerships and effective planning. We’ll also reduce wildfire risk with valuable tools we already use by increasing prescribed fire and fuel treatments.

Active forest management—Timber production, grazing and reforestation: We must do more to create resilient forests through active forest management, including fuels reduction through mechanical thinning and prescribed fires. I believe expanding timber production and reducing barriers to grazing are important pillars for keeping our forests open, healthy and productive. Boosting timber production will not just help with our overall forest health but will also support local mills, critical to the success of our forest management work. Additionally, we need to position grazing as a core land management tool by expanding access, modernizing processes and elevating producer voices.

We need to accelerate the reforestation process in areas that have been affected by wildfires and streamline permits and reviews to deliver results faster. The final piece of forest management, I believe, lies in our ability to expand our wood products and energy markets through innovation.

Minerals and energy development: National forests provide more than water and recreation; they’re a foundation for energy security and innovation. I want our agency to unleash American energy and resource potential as part of our multiple-use mission. First and foremost, we must support access to critical minerals essential to energy, defense and technology. We also need to reduce the amount of red tape needed to accelerate responsible exploration and permitting for said resources. Finally, we must also support energy development that complements forest management. I believe that responsible resource use helps strengthen the nation’s economy and resilience.

Disaster recovery: When disasters strike, the Forest Service helps communities recover by repairing trails and other infrastructure, restoring damaged landscape, and restoring damaged forests. Rebuilding and restoration, and being an active part of the community, are integral parts of our mission that I want to not just continue but strengthen. When we help communities and forests affected by natural disasters, we are also helping strengthen relationships and mitigating damage from future disasters. Restoring damaged forests and grasslands benefits us today and well into the future.  

Recreation access and infrastructure: Outdoor recreation continues to grow, and millions of people rely on us for access to the places they love. Expanding that access and improving visitor experience is a major priority. We’re modernizing trails, campgrounds, and facilities; improving roads and recreation sites; strengthening on-the-ground engagement; and using tools like Recreation.gov to help visitors plan safe, enjoyable trips. Our goal is simple: more access, better service, and a visitor experience that reflects the pride we take in stewarding our forests.

Deregulation and organizational efficiency: For too long, the Forest Service has been bogged down by excessive processes that hamper innovation and don’t serve the American people. Reducing burdensome processes increases efficiency and delivers results on the ground. I want us all to focus on actions that roll back this red tape. I want to ensure critical projects can be accomplished easier and faster by clearing obstacles that make it hard to do business with the Forest Service. I believe that the people closest to the ground know the forest best, and we should listen to what they have to say about it. We must also work to reduce administrative layers and focus on delivering services more efficiently.

Partnerships and cooperative federalism: And finally, I want to recognize the work we are doing alongside state, tribal and local governments to manage the nation’s forests more effectively. Shared stewardship and local collaboration are essential to improving forest health, wildfire resilience, recreation access and conservation outcomes.

We are all part of this important work. By focusing on the fundamentals, we can do more to support the health and vitality of our forests and grasslands and neighboring communities. These priorities provide us with a clear path forward as we manage America’s forests and grasslands for the benefit of all people, today and into the future. 

Editor's Note: Bookmark the new Forest Service Priorities webpage. Provide feedback about this column, submit questions or suggest topics for future columns through the FS-Employee Feedback inbox.