Trump Administration Advances Roadless Rule Repeal at the Expense of Wildlife, Clean Water and Public Will

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released its proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement seeking to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a bedrock law that protects 45 million acres of national forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Roadless areas have an outsized importance for wildlife: they make up just 2% of land in the lower 48 states yet provide habitat for 57% of the country's vulnerable terrestrial species. Rescinding the rule would open these intact forests to road-building and timber harvest, threatening some of America's last undisturbed landscapes.

"The Roadless Rule was hands-down one of the Forest Service's best ideas - rescinding it is without question one of its worst," said Vera Smith, director of national forests and public lands program at Defenders of Wildlife. "The rule is a big reason why national forests continue to serve as important habitats for our wildlife and losing it would be a major loss for all the species that call these areas home."

According to the USDA, the impetus for eliminating the rule is to further the administration's deregulatory agenda and to provide flexibility to respond to local resource conditions. The rule already, however, provides management flexibility, including wildfire risk reduction and response to threats to public safety. The original Roadless Rule also reflected extensive local involvement throughout the country, which illustrated the value of these places as a national asset that should be conserved and managed consistently.

"The Roadless Rule is scientifically sound, fiscally responsible and socially embraced," said Keats Conley, senior planning and policy specialist at Defenders of Wildlife. "For a quarter-century, it has safeguarded our last best wild places, benefiting wildlife, outdoor recreation and the tens of millions of Americans who rely on these forests for clean drinking water. Roadless areas are strongholds for wildlife - sustaining healthy populations and pristine habitat that species can't find elsewhere."

When enacted in 2001, the rule was backed by broad bipartisan support, reflecting how deeply Americans across the political spectrum value the conservation of wildlife and habitat. It received over 1.6 million comments with over 95% of voters in support at the time. During the original rulemaking, the Forest Service held over 600 public meetings nationwide. This time around, the Trump administration has held none. The Roadless Rule remains one of the most popular policies ever adopted by the federal government. A February 2026 national poll by Susquehanna Polling and Research, Inc. found that 76% of likely voters support the Roadless Rule. During the initial 2025 comment period on the proposed rescission, more than 625,000 comments were submitted- over 95% of which supported keeping roadless protections.

"The Forest Service already has 370,000 miles of roads, many falling into costly disrepair. There's no need for even more roads to be carved into our last remaining wild places. Wildlife won't benefit and neither will the American public, who've made clear that these forests are of national importance and deserve continued protection," Conley said.

The American people have until midnight on September 21 to comment on the DEIS, marking the final opportunity to weigh in before the move is finalized.

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For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America's wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.

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