Budgeting for Results
The Forest Service mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Of course, a budget that supports those missions helps us do our jobs. We appreciate your support as we work toward the future.
What the budget supports:
The graphic shows jobs supported in various industries across the U.S. The agency budget also supports:
- Management of 193 million acres of public lands in 43 states and Puerto Rico for multiple uses.
- Sustainable stewardship of more than 600 million acres of forestland across the U.S., including more than 400 million acres of private land.
- The largest forestry research organization in the world.
- Sustainable stewardship of forests in more than 80 countries.
How are we doing?
Tracking our activities through performance measures provides the Forest Service the opportunity to demonstrate our achievements.
- Performance accountability is an integral part of Forest Service operating standards, as it aligns projects and initiatives with long-term targets and strategic goals.
- Project plans are reviewed and updated throughout the fiscal year to reflect changed conditions.
- Accomplishments for key performance measures are used as part of the annual performance evaluations. This process provides concrete linkages between our strategic goals and our day-to-day activities.
Read our budget and performance standards
Tracking our activities through performance measures provides the Forest Service the opportunity to demonstrate our achievements.
Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Justification
- Fiscal Year 2017 Overview (PDF, 3.3 MB)
- Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Justification (PDF, 6.5 MB)
Fiscal Year 2016 Overview Errata
- Forest Legacy Project List (PDF, 13 KB)
- Land Acquisition Project List (PDF, 16 KB)
Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Justification Errata
- Forest Legacy Project List (PDF, 19 KB)
- Land Acquisition Project List (PDF, 23 KB)
- Fiscal Year 2016 Overview
- Fiscal Year 2016 Justification
- Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Justification Errata
- Fiscal Year 2015 Overview
- Fiscal Year 2015 Justification
Previous year Budget Justifaction
- Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Justification (PDF, 4 MB)
- Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Justification (PDF, 13 MB)
- Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Justification (PDF, 19 MB)
- Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Justification (PDF, 5.2 MB)
- Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Justification (PDF, 2.9 MB)
- Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Justification (PDF, 2MB)
- Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Justification (PDF, 3MB)
- Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Justification (PDF, 3.2 MB)
Appropriations-related questions from Congress
The Forest Service is sometimes asked to provide answers to appropriations-related questions from Congress, sometimes referred to as Congressional Directives. The responses can be in the form of a letter or a report or both. Sometimes other supporting documents are included. Each includes the bill referenced in the directive.
Related blogs
The Cost of Fighting Wildfires is Sapping Forest Service Budget
View report The Rising Cost of Wildfire Operations (PDF, 1.5 MB)