The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it intends to rescind the roadless rule, a regulation established 25 years ago that restricts development activities such as road construction and logging across approximately 45 million acres of national forest land. The Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, framed the proposal as an effort to address forest health and fire risk while shifting decision-making authority to state and local levels.
Administration officials and state representatives supporting the measure argue that the roadless rule has contributed to overgrown and diseased forests that pose wildfire hazards. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte stated that rescinding the rule would empower states to conduct forest management on federal lands in consultation with local communities. However, this rationale faced significant scientific pushback. A letter published last fall from more than 30 forest science researchers countered that wilderness and roadless areas have experienced the lowest density of wildfire ignitions over the past three decades, while areas adjacent to roads have recorded the highest number of ignitions. Data from the National Interagency Fire Center indicates that approximately 85 percent of wildfires result from human activity.
The affected roadless areas are predominantly located in western national forests and Alaska, with Montana protecting nearly 6 million acres under the rule and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem encompassing nearly 10 million acres. Conservation groups have raised concerns about wildlife impacts, noting that roadless areas provide critical habitat for numerous species. Research has documented that 57 percent of species of conservation concern depend on habitat within at least one roadless area. Wildlife advocates specifically pointed to potential consequences for grizzly bears, which research indicates actively avoid roads and respond negatively to increased road density.
Public sentiment has consistently favored maintaining the roadless rule. During a recent public comment period, 99 percent of more than 625,000 submissions opposed the proposed rescission. A national Pew survey conducted earlier this year found that 76 percent of likely voters supported the rule, while a University of Montana poll similarly demonstrated broad bipartisan backing for retaining the protections.
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. Environmental advocates, including legal representatives from Earthjustice, have indicated they will mount legal challenges if the administration moves forward with finalizing the rescission.
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