USDA Takes Next Steps to Rescind the 2021 Roadless Rule

Featured article from AFRC's September 2025 Newsletter.

On August 27, USDA Secretary Rollins announced the next steps in a rulemaking process to rescind the 2021 Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule has been a roadblock to science-based active management on millions of acres of Federal forests for more than a quarter-Century. Rescinding the Roadless Rule would allow local experts to make place-based decisions to steward and manage our forests.

The Secretary's decision was published in the Federal Register on August 29. Public comments are due September 19. AFRC will submit supportive comments on behalf of our members, highlighting the following points:

It's about wildfire prevention and public safety.

• Nearly half of all roadless acres are located in areas rated as high or very high wildfire risk.
• Since the Roadless Rule was enacted, more than 8 million acres of roadless forests have burned - highlighting the consequences of limiting access and management.
• Roads are essential for safe and effective wildfire response. Without access, firefighters can't reach ignition points, build containment lines, or safely evacuate visitors and residents.
• Rescinding the rule allows land manages to reduce fuels and restore healthier, more fire-resilient forests.

It's about promoting proactive, science-based forest management.

• The Roadless Rule effectively barred active forest management across nearly 60 million acres, or almost one-third of the National Forest System. This approach simply hasn't worked.
• Many of these forests are now overstocked with dead or dying trees, creating ideal conditions for insects, disease, and ultimately more high-severity wildfires.
• Rescinding the rule will give our public lands managers more opportunities to use science based tools - like thinning, prescribed burning, and selective harvesting - to improve forest health and reduce ecological stress.

It's about maintaining safe access and critical infrastructure on public lands.

• Road access is necessary not only for management but also for maintaining recreation infrastructure, water systems, and search-and-rescue operations.
• The rule even prevented temporary road construction in areas where roads were critical for stewardship and public safety.
• Rescinding the rule doesn't mandate roadbuilding. It simply allows roads to be considered where they're needed.

It's about restoring local flexibility and accountability.

• A one-size-fits-all mandate doesn't work across 60 million acres of diverse landscapes.
• Rescinding the rule gives local land managers and stakeholders flexibility to tailor solutions based on forest conditions, fire risk, and ecological needs.
• Forest Service decisions will still be transparent, collaborative, and accountable to the public through established environmental laws and processes.

Rescinding the Roadless Rule will not result in "Unrestrained Logging."

• Claims that rescinding the Roadless Rule will lead to "unrestrained logging" are false and misleading. All activities on National Forest lands - including those in former roadless areas - must still comply with strict environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and individual forest management plans.
• Forest projects must undergo site-specific environmental review, public input, and scientific analysis before proceeding. Rescission simply removes a blanket, top-down blanket prohibition on considering access - it does not eliminate the rigorous oversight that governs timber harvests on federal land.
• Federal forests remain among the most heavily regulated lands in the world, and sustainable forest management, not unrestrained logging, remains the standard.

Rescinding the Roadless Rule will not lead to more human-caused wildfires.

• Not all roads are open to the public. The Forest Service routinely restricts access to certain roads using gates, locks, and barriers - especially in areas with sensitive wildlife or fire concerns. Rescinding the Roadless Rule does not mean unlimited public access.
• Roads can be managed to reduce ignition risks. Agencies can control access to prevent human-caused ignitions while maintaining roads for emergency response, fuels treatment, and maintenance.
• Poor access is a top obstacle to fire suppression. In nearly every major wildfire over the past 15-20 years, the Forest Service has identified lack of road access as a key barrier to effective response.
• Road infrastructure supports rapid suppression. Having roads in place - especially ones that are closed but can be quickly reopened - allows firefighting crews to access ignition points faster and prevent small fires from becoming large, destructive events.
• Current policy is leading to road loss, not expansion. The Forest Service is losing more than 1,000 miles of road access every year due to policy restrictions or lack of maintenance funding - further limiting its ability to manage forests and respond to fire.
• Building new roads mid-crisis is inefficient and dangerous. When fires start in remote areas, it often takes days for the Forest Service to build temporary roads just to get equipment on-site. Maintaining access in advance saves valuable time and resources.

Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities also offers an easy-to-use online form that allows you to send official comments directly to the Forest Service. You can take action here. Please share it with others who support better forest management.