Trump Administration Plans Repeal of Logging Limits on 45 Million Acres in Western Forests

The Trump administration, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Brooke Rollins, is moving forward with plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, which has prohibited road construction and limited logging on millions of acres of federal land for over two decades. The administration announced a public comment period starting Friday and lasting until September 19, inviting input on the proposal as part of an environmental impact statement process. Supporters, including Utah Governor Spencer Cox, argue that ending the rule will allow better forest management, including dead timber removal, to reduce wildfire risks and promote healthier forests. However, environmental groups and conservationists criticize the move, warning it could lead to increased logging and mining that threaten protected lands and potentially cause environmental harm. The rollback would affect up to 45 million acres of federal land, primarily in the American West, and restore decision-making authority to local land managers. This effort follows a previous attempt by the Trump administration to eliminate the rule, which was blocked by lawsuits during the first term, and contrasts with the Biden administration's decision to drop the repeal effort.