Industry News
More than 50 million acres of protected U.S. forestlands could face new threats as the Trump administration moves to eliminate longstanding environmental safeguards. On June 23, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the administration intends to rescind the Forest Service Roadless Rule, a federal policy that has safeguarded vast swaths of national forestland from new road construction, logging, and industrial development since 2001.
The potential repeal has set off alarm bells across the conservation and outdoor recreation communities. Roadless areas, which make up approximately 58.5 million acres nationwide, are valued not just for their ecological and climate benefits, but also for the backcountry access they provide to skiers, hunters, anglers, and hikers.
“Roadless areas are so important for backcountry skiing,” Hilary Eisen, outgoing Policy Director at Winter Wildlands Alliance, wrote in an email correspondence with SnowBrains. “They provide the quiet, wild character that defines much of what we love about skiing in the backcountry.”
While the Roadless Rule remains in place for now, the administration’s announcement signals a clear intent to dismantle it. The USDA has not outlined how it plans to proceed—whether through a formal rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedures Act, or via an interim final rule that could take effect immediately, as it did in 2020 with the rollback of NEPA protections.
If the administration chooses a legal route, there will be a window for public comment. Conservationists are preparing for a vigorous campaign during that period to defend the Roadless Rule, which has withstood legal and political challenges for over two decades.
Making the Rule a Law
Lawmakers have also introduced legislation to protect roadless areas permanently. The Roadless Area Conservation Act—reintroduced in both the House and Senate—would codify the Roadless Rule into law, insulating it from future administrative repeal. But with current control of Congress, the bill faces long odds.
“A show of public support is critical,” Eisen said, noting that it could build pressure in Congress and strengthen forthcoming legal cases. As part of its campaign, Winter Wildlands Alliance has published a form for constituents to contact their representatives.
Wild Places, Real Stakes
Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has allowed for non-invasive uses on protected lands, including grazing, some thinning and fuels management, and recreation. But it has restricted road-building and commercial logging, which advocates say is essential to preserving intact ecosystems, protecting water supplies, and mitigating climate change.
Some roadless areas are among the most carbon-rich landscapes in North America, like those in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Others serve as headwaters for major river systems or as critical habitat for threatened species. They are also the backbone of a growing outdoor economy. From alpine touring in Colorado to snowmobiling in Idaho, roadless zones support billions of dollars in winter recreation, much of it reliant on the remoteness and environmental integrity that roadless protections preserve.
Land Sell-Off Provisions Add Fuel to the Fire
Adding urgency to the issue, conservationists are also tracking a new provision in Senate legislation that could mandate the sale of public lands, including national forest parcels, for housing development. Language in the draft bill from Republican Sen. Mike Lee would require the disposal of up to 0.75% of Forest Service land in eligible Western states, including California, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and others.
While federally protected lands—like wilderness areas and national parks—would be exempt, critics argue the proposed disposal process is vague, potentially fast-tracked, and subject to local pressure. Eisen, who will soon begin a new role as Federal Policy Director at Wild Montana, says vigilance is needed. “We simply have to keep the pressure on Congress to reject land sell-offs and protect the landscapes that define the American West.”
How to Get Involved
With no timeline yet announced for rescinding the Roadless Rule, advocates are urging the public to stay engaged. Winter Wildlands Alliance will be monitoring developments and providing updates through its blog and social media channels. In the meantime, individuals can contact their elected officials through WWA’s online action form and urge them to support the Roadless Area Conservation Act.
“We may not stop this repeal outright,” Eisen said, “but our voices will shape what happens next.”
Contact your representatives and ask them to support the Roadless Area Conservation Act. Click here to send a message now.
