ALBUQUERQUE — The Trump administration officially set the stage for a major environmental showdown, moving ahead with a proposal to scrap a quarter-century-old federal rule that bars commercial logging, road building, and industrial development across tens of millions of acres of U.S. national forest land.
The U.S. Forest Service submitted a formal proposal in the Federal Register to repeal the "Roadless Rule"—a landmark conservation policy adopted during the closing days of President Bill Clinton’s administration in 2001. Federal officials argue the rule created rigid, one-size-fits-all mandates that hampered local forest managers and contributed to worsening wildfire risks.
"Our forests can't afford another decade of inaction," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement. "Across the country, we've watched preventable conditions—overgrown stands, insect outbreaks, and disease—turn healthy landscapes into tinderboxes."
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Roadless Rule currently protects roughly 59 million acres (24 million hectares) of undeveloped federal woodland, representing about 30% of the entire national forest system. Federal officials stressed that removing the national designation does not automatically mandate timber harvesting or road construction, but rather returns management authority back to local forest service personnel.
However, environmental groups and conservation advocates strongly criticized the move, warning that removing protections will devastate fragile ecosystems, harm wildlife habitats, and jeopardize vital clean water sources.
"Americans across the political spectrum have made it crystal clear that they don’t want political appointees removing protections from public lands," said Chris Krupp, an attorney with WildEarth Guardians. "It would be a gross misreading of public sentiment to take the roadless rule away from Americans and our wildlife."
Opponents also contested the administration's claim that road construction helps mitigate wildfire hazards. Alex Craven, forest campaign manager for the Sierra Club, pointed out that building new roads into pristine wilderness often increases human-caused ignition risks, adding that existing regulations already allow for targeted fire-prevention projects.
Meanwhile, fiscal conservatives raised concerns over infrastructure costs. David Jenkins, president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, noted that the Forest Service already faces a multi-billion-dollar backlog in road maintenance, with over 368,000 miles of existing roads already running through national forests.
The proposed repeal will be subject to a public comment period lasting through September 21, alongside a draft environmental impact statement, after which federal authorities will decide on a final rule. Conservation organizations have vowed to challenge the repeal in federal court.
