The Donald Trump administration has announced plans to fully repeal the "Roadless Rule," a 25-year-old policy that has protected old-growth forests across the United States. The proposal was officially submitted by the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday.
Lifting these restrictions could open nearly 45 million acres of national forest land to industrial development, including road construction, logging, and drilling. The government justifies the move as a necessary step to remove obstacles to forest management and wildfire mitigation. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that current regulations limit the ability of local managers to maintain forest health.
Environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), have sharply criticized the initiative. Experts argue that removing these protections will threaten unique ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Conservationists emphasize that road construction could actually increase fire risks, noting that existing rules already permit necessary forest maintenance and preventative work.
