Trump Administration Repeals Longstanding Forest Protection Rule

The Trump administration has formally repealed a major federal conservation policy that had safeguarded tens of millions of acres of U.S. forestland from development for over two decades.

The move eliminates the 2001 “Roadless Rule,” a regulation that barred road construction and logging across roughly 59 million acres of national forests. Designed to preserve remote wilderness areas and reduce environmental degradation, the rule has long been considered a cornerstone of federal forest protection efforts.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the decision during a visit to New Mexico. Defending the repeal, Rollins described the rule as “overly restrictive” and claimed its removal would promote better forest management and reduce wildfire risk. “President Trump is cutting through red tape to allow for more sensible stewardship of our natural resources,” she said.

The rollback stems from Executive Order 14192, titled “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” which Trump signed on January 31st. The repeal will affect multiple protected areas, including the San Bernardino and Sequoia National Forests in California.

Environmental groups swiftly criticized the decision, warning it could have far-reaching ecological consequences. Randi Spivak, public lands policy director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the move puts “some of our most intact forests” at risk and accused the administration of prioritizing industry interests over environmental protection.

Ellen Montgomery, who leads the Great Outdoors Campaign at Environment America, shared similar concerns, stressing the importance of the Roadless Rule in safeguarding old-growth forests that absorb carbon and support diverse wildlife. She cautioned that removing these protections could negatively impact future generations.

The administration’s decision marks a significant shift in federal forest policy, intensifying the debate over conservation, wildfire prevention, and land use in an era of accelerating climate change.