What USDA's Roadless Rule Repeal Could Mean for Outdoor Access

On August 20, 2026, the US Department of Agriculture and the US Forest Service released an environmental impact statement regarding the potential removal of the Roadless Rule. The statement comes roughly a year after the US Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, announced initial plans to repeal the Roadless Rule.
The rule, which was established in 2001, keeps wilderness areas, including 30% of all national forest lands, from roadway development and timber operations. It is regarded as one of