The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Trump administration is moving to eliminate the “roadless rule,” a policy enacted 25 years ago that restricts road construction and logging activities on approximately 45 million acres of national forest land. According to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the regulation has prevented proper forest management and contributed to overgrown, diseased forests that increase wildfire risk. The administration framed the proposal as a shift toward local decision-making and state authority over federal forest management.
Forest science researchers have contested the administration’s rationale. In a letter published last fall, more than 30 leading forest scientists from across the country concluded that wildfire ignition density was actually lowest in wilderness and roadless areas over the past three decades. Their analysis indicated that the highest concentrations of wildfire ignitions occurred on lands near roads, while federal data shows nearly 85 percent of wildfires originate from human causes.
The roadless rule primarily affects national forests in the western United States and Alaska, with Montana’s protected acreage totaling nearly 6 million acres and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem encompassing approximately 10 million protected acres. Wildlife advocates raised concerns that rescinding the rule would harm species recovery efforts, particularly for grizzly bears, which research shows actively avoid roads and decline in numbers as road density increases. Conservation groups noted that 57 percent of species designated as conservation concerns depend on habitat within roadless areas, and road construction fragments migration corridors for elk and pronghorn.
Public opinion surveys indicate strong opposition to the proposal. During a public comment period last fall, 99 percent of more than 625,000 submissions opposed the rescission. A national Pew survey conducted earlier this year found 76 percent of likely voters supported maintaining the rule, while a University of Montana poll demonstrated broad bipartisan backing among state residents.
The Forest Service will publish the proposal and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register on August 20, with a public comment period extending through September 21. Legal advocates have indicated they plan to challenge the proposal if finalized, citing potential harms to water quality, wildlife, and recreational opportunities on public lands.
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