[REVISION HISTORY]

Trump administration moves to rescind national Roadless Rule

Updated 17 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-30 16:49 UTC → 2026-09-30 17:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Trump administration, via the U.S. Forest Service and the USDA, has formally proposed to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This policy protects between 44 and 59 million acres of National Forest System land—roughly 30% of the system—from new road construction, commercial logging, and mining. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has defended the move, characterizing the current rule as an outdated, “one-size-fits-all” mandate that acts as a “barrier to wildfire risk reduction.” Administration officials argue that the restrictions prevent local managers from addressing overgrown vegetation, insect outbreaks, and disease, which turn forests into “tinderboxes.” They contend that lifting these restrictions would allow roads to serve as firebreaks and provide better access for firefighters, while shifting decision-making authority back to local agencies. In ~~addition~~ response, a delegation of 38 California congressional members, including Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, has formally opposed the efforts to ~~rescinding~~ rescind the ~~Roadless Rule,~~ rule. These lawmakers warned that a repeal could jeopardize water quality in major California rivers and increase the risk of devastating wildfires. Additionally, the administration is moving to significantly revise the Travel Management Rule to increase access for motorized vehicles, e-bikes, and wheelchairs. Following an executive order, the U.S. Forest Service is now considering significant revisions to the 2005 Travel Management Rule to overhaul the framework used to designate which trails and roads are open to motorized vehicles. While Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz stated the move aims to streamline decision-making, critics argue removing the current system could impact environmental conservation and the experience of non-motorized ~~visitors seeking quiet recreation. The existing rule is designed to protect soil, water, wildlife, and vegetation.~~ visitors. As the process moves toward an environmental impact statement, the Woodwell Climate Research Center has raised concerns regarding the scale of potential ~~logging. While the current proposal suggests a 5 to 10 percent increase in the annual National Forest System sawtimber harvest, Woodwell noted~~ logging, noting that Executive Order 14225 may necessitate a 25 percent increase or ~~larger.~~ larger in sawtimber harvests.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.