U.S. Forest Service proposes major changes to roadless and travel rules

The Trump administration is moving to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule and significantly revise the Travel Management Rule, affecting millions of acres of U.S. national forests and grasslands.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated the changes are necessary to address forest health and wildfire risks, arguing that current restrictions prevent essential management like thinning and prescribed burns. The proposed rescission of the Roadless Rule would open approximately 45 million acres to potential logging, road construction, and development.

Simultaneously, revisions to the Travel Management Rule aim to shift decision-making to the local level and increase access for motorized vehicles, e-bikes, and wheelchairs. Proponents argue this will improve public recreation access, while conservation groups warn it could lead to habitat degradation, erosion, and increased wildfire ignitions near new roads.

Public comment periods are currently open, with some hearings scheduled for September to discuss impacts on specific regions, including the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. While the changes affect roadless areas, they do not alter protections for lands officially designated under the 1964 Wilderness Act.