U.S. Forest Service reopens Resource Advisory Committee nomination process

Key Takeaways

On August 13, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced it was reopening the nomination process for Resource Advisory Committee (RACs) that direct certain funding from the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. County elected officials are eligible and encouraged to apply to serve on a RAC by November 12, 2026.

Access the RAC application here

RACs evaluate and choose infrastructure and environmental maintenance projects in National Forest System units using SRS dollars. The USFS had previously opened the nomination process in May 2026 but has decided to redo appointments to align with the USFS’s ongoing re-organization.

What are Resource Advisory Committees?

Under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, a portion of the program’s funding – known as Title II funding – is directed to projects in National Forests. RACs, composed of 9 to 15 local stakeholders, provide guidance on what projects Title II funding should support. Typically, funding goes toward road maintenance or ecosystem restoration projects.  

Up to 5 members of a RAC can be local elected leaders, including county officials, who can provide input on how projects may benefit local communities that rely on National Forests for transportation, economic development and more. Due to the lapse of the SRS program at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2023 and its subsequent reauthorization through the end of the FY 2026, USFS must reorganize the RACs and re-appoint members to serve on them.

How to apply

County leaders can directly submit applications to serve on their area’s RAC. A full list of RACs and their corresponding National Forests is available here. As federal advisory committees, county leaders must fill out background check forms, and appointments are made at the discretion of the Chief of the USFS. RAC members serve for a period of 4 years.

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SRS Reauthorization

The SRS program provides stabilizing payments to counties home to National Forest land and has delivered critical relief to timber-dependent counties that rely on these funds to maintain essential services, provide quality education and transition toward long-term fiscal stability. The SRS program was reauthorized through the end of FY 2026, with the program’s final authorized payments going out in spring 2027.  

Without Congressional action to reauthorize the program, counties could be forced to cut basic government functions that have no alternative funding source. NACo strongly urges Congress to pass legislation reauthorizing the program before it expires on September 30, 2026.

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