Claim: 

The U.S. plants 2.5 billion trees per year. (The Hill)

Rating: 

Unverified

Evidence and Analysis

Joe Westerman’s claim that the U.S. plants 2.5 billion trees annually lacks strong supporting evidence and contradicts the most reliable available data.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that forest and conservation nurseries distribute about 1.3 billion seedlings annually, leading to around 2.2 million acres of tree planting per year. This is lower than 2 billion and well below 2.5 billion. (USDA Report)
• A 2021 report from American Forests also estimates 1.3 billion seedlings produced per year, covering about 2.5 million acres. (American Forests Report)
• Historical data suggests that the U.S. previously planted up to 2 billion seedlings annually in the 1980s, but this number has declined due to nursery closures, funding reductions, and industry shifts.
• The US Forest Service maintains maps with polygons of reforestation activities, with some species info, but doesn't seem to have actual site-specific planting numbers, making validation difficult.

Context and Clarifications

• There have been proposals to increase U.S. tree planting, such as Rep. Bruce Westerman’s Trillion Trees Act, which aimed to boost planting to 3.3 billion per year. However, this is a policy goal, not the current reality. 
• While 2 billion seedlings annually was once feasible, current figures do not support the claim that this is still happening.

Conclusion

The claim that the U.S. plants 2.5 billion trees per year is unverified. Available data indicates that the current number is closer to 1.3 billion, but past planting levels and future legislative goals suggest the number could vary over time.

Sources

Frazin, R., & Beitsch, R. (2020, February 2). GOP lawmaker wants U.S. to commit to planting 33 billion trees . The Hill.

U.S. Department of the Interior & U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2023, April). Reforestation goals and assessments, and a climate-informed plan to increase federal seed and nursery capacity as directed by Executive Order 14072 .

American Forests. (2021, March). Ramping up reforestation in the United States: A guide for policymakers .

U.S. Forest Service. EDW_SilvicultureReforestation_01 (MapServer) .

Haase, D. L., Pike, C., Enebak, S., Mackey, L., Ma, Z., & Silva, C. (2020). Forest nursery seedling production in the United States—Fiscal year 2019 . Tree Planters’ Notes, 63(2).