SANTA FE, N.M. — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is officially rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, a policy that previously restricted road construction and timber harvesting on 58.5 million acres of National Forest System land.

Speaking at the Western Governors’ Association meeting in New Mexico, Rollins called the rule outdated and incompatible with the USDA Forest Service’s mission to maintain forest health and productivity. She said the reversal would restore flexibility for managing wildfire risk, enable timber production, and improve economic opportunities in rural communities.

“This move opens a new era of consistency and sustainability for our nation’s forests,” Rollins said. “Properly managing our forests preserves them from devastating fires and allows future generations to enjoy and benefit from them.”

The rule change affects roughly 30% of national forest lands, including 60% of Utah’s forest service land, 58% in Montana, and 92% in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. USDA officials cited concerns that the restrictions hinder local efforts to mitigate wildfires and have a negative economic impact. According to the USDA, Utah estimates a 25% loss in forestry-related economic development due to the roadless designation.

The decision aligns with Executive Order 14192, signed by President Trump, which seeks to reduce regulatory barriers across federal agencies. Rollins emphasized that the new policy would give greater authority to local forest managers to respond to on-the-ground conditions, particularly in areas at high risk of wildfire. Nearly 28 million acres previously protected under the Roadless Rule are located in high or very high wildfire risk zones.

The rescission takes effect as the USDA shifts toward a more decentralized model of land management that prioritizes local input and decision-making. Critics of the Roadless Rule have long argued that it prevented responsible forest management and hindered economic use of public lands.

The USDA has not yet indicated whether a replacement policy will be issued, but officials said future forest projects will be reviewed under existing environmental and forest planning laws.