The Forest Service is defending its plan to relocate its headquarters to Utah and shutter most of its research facilities, as part of a major agency reorganization, and intends to proceed with these plans with or without approval from Congress.

Last month, the Agriculture Department announced that the Forest Service would move its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, the agency should shut down 57 of its 77 research facilities, as well as all nine of its regional offices.

Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz told members of the House Appropriations Committee that about 500 employees would have to relocate under the headquarters reorganization plan — about 1.5% of the agency’s 30,000 workforce.