The Trump administration is advancing a proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, opening the door to increased timber harvesting on millions of acres of national forest land.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the plan in August, with the Forest Service filing a proposed rule to rescind the regulation entirely. The move aligns with executive orders aimed at expanding American timber production and reducing regulatory barriers to forest management.

The rule currently restricts road construction and commercial logging on approximately 44.7 million acres of inventoried roadless areas across the national forest system. Proponents argue that the one-size-fits-all restriction has limited the ability of local forest managers to conduct thinning and fuels treatments needed to reduce wildfire risks and improve forest health.

Industry groups and some Western state officials have welcomed the change. Timber producers say greater access to federal lands could help meet domestic demand and support jobs in rural communities that have seen mill closures in recent years. Officials in states like Wyoming have expressed support for returning decision-making authority to local levels.

Public comments on the proposal closed earlier this month, with hundreds of thousands of submissions received. The administration has indicated a preference for full repeal over partial alternatives that would retain protections on a smaller subset of acres. A final decision is expected in early 2027.

The repeal would not automatically mandate logging or road building but would eliminate the national-level prohibition, allowing individual forest plans to determine appropriate uses. Supporters frame the action as essential deregulation that prioritizes practical land management over outdated restrictions.

Critics, including environmental organizations, contend the change could lead to increased development in sensitive watersheds and recreational areas. The administration maintains that active management, including targeted harvesting, offers the best path to resilient forests and economic benefits from America's public lands.