Roadless Rule Repeal: 45 Million Acres of National Forests Opened to Logging

The Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to open nearly 45 million acres of national forests to roadbuilding and logging. The proposal would repeal the “roadless rule,” a federal policy that has protected these undeveloped areas for decades. The roadless rule, established in 2001, prohibits most road construction and timber harvesting on certain federal lands. The new plan would lift those restrictions across large portions of national forests, mainly in Alaska and the western United States. Scientists and environmental groups have voiced strong opposition to the move. They argue that building roads and logging in these areas would fragment wildlife habitats, harm watersheds, and increase the risk of landslides and flooding. Public opposition is also significant. According to past federal reviews, the majority of the millions of comments submitted on the rule supported keeping it in place. Supporters of the repeal, including some state and industry leaders, say the change would boost rural economies by increasing access to timber and creating jobs. They also argue that current forest management is too restrictive and hampers efforts to reduce wildfire risks. The administration has not yet set a final timeline for implementing the change. If finalized, it would mark one of the largest transfers of protected federal land to commercial use in recent U.S. history.