[REVISION HISTORY]

Trump administration moves to rescind national Roadless Rule

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2026-08-18 23:04 UTC → 2026-08-19 01:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Trump administration has formally proposed to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a move that would remove protections for approximately 44 to 59 million acres of National Forest System land. The proposal seeks to lift restrictions on road construction, logging, and mineral leasing. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has characterized the current rule as an outdated, “one-size-fits-all” mandate that acts as a “barrier to wildfire risk reduction.” She noted that current conditions have turned landscapes into “tinderboxes” due to disease and overgrown vegetation. The administration intends to shift decision-making authority from national regulations to local forest managers to improve forest health and increase access to resources. The proposal primarily impacts ten Western states, including Alaska, California, ~~and~~ Oregon, Arizona, and Utah, which hold the vast majority of the nation’s roadless areas. While officials clarify that the rescission does not automatically mandate timber cutting or road construction, the move aligns with goals to increase domestic timber production. Environmental and conservation groups, such as Oregon Wild and the Alaska Wilderness League, have expressed strong opposition. Critics argue the change threatens clean water supplies, critical wildlife habitats, and irreplaceable ecosystems through habitat fragmentation and increased erosion. The U.S. Forest Service has filed a draft environmental impact statement, and a public comment period is scheduled to end on September 21.

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