WASHINGTON D.C. – Environmental advocates are raising alarms over the Trump administration’s latest decision to repeal crucial forest protections, a move that could open 58 million acres of national forests to extensive development.
Immediate Impact
On Monday, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the repeal of the “Roadless Rule,” a regulation established in 2001 aimed at preserving federal forestlands. This decision could lead to significant changes in how these lands are managed, sparking concerns among environmental groups.
Key Details Emerge
The “Roadless Rule” was initially proposed by the Clinton administration in 1999 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 2001. It restricts road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting across 58.5 million acres of roadless areas within the National Forest System, which constitutes about a third of the system’s total land.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that nearly 60% of forest service land in Utah and 58% in Montana are restricted under the rule, with about 92% of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest also affected.
Industry Response
Rollins described the rule as “outdated” and “overly restrictive,” claiming it contradicts the USDA Forest Service’s mandate to sustain forest health and productivity. The administration argues that rescinding the rule will facilitate fire prevention and responsible timber production.
By the Numbers
About 28 million acres of federal forest are at “high or very high risk” of wildfires, according to the USDA.
Environmental Advocates Sound the Alarm
Environmental groups argue that the repeal favors private industry over ecological preservation. “Our nation’s public forests belong to all of us, but the Trump Administration is treating them as property for the private industry to clearcut, drill and profit,” said Josh Hicks, conservation campaigns director at The Wilderness Society.
Wildfires are nearly four times more likely to start in forest areas with roads compared to roadless areas, according to The Wilderness Society’s analysis of wildfire data from 1992 to 2024.
Expert Analysis
Drew Caputo, vice president of litigation for lands, wildlife, and oceans at Earthjustice, warned that the repeal could lead to increased industrial logging. “The Trump administration now wants to throw these forest protections overboard so the timber industry can make huge money from unrestrained logging,” he stated.
Background Context
The “Roadless Rule” has played a pivotal role in protecting forests from energy development, mining, logging, and road building. It has also safeguarded lands for outdoor recreation and wildlife habitats. Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited, emphasized the importance of these areas for clean water and recreational opportunities.
Regional Implications
Vera Smith, director of the national forests and public lands program at Defenders of Wildlife, described the repeal as “taking a blowtorch” to a landmark rule. “America’s roadless forests are crucial strongholds for wildlife, including at-risk species battling extinction,” she said.
What Comes Next
The repeal aligns with President Trump’s broader deregulation agenda and aims to decentralize decision-making to local levels. A formal notice of the rollback is expected soon, and environmental organizations are preparing to challenge the decision in court.
“We will stand for America’s national forests and the wildlife that depend on them,” Caputo vowed. “If the Trump administration actually revokes the roadless rule, we’ll see them in court.”