WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a new directive aimed at expanding grazing opportunities on National Forest lands and streamlining support for ranchers who use federal grazing allotments.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Friday that the directive has been distributed to all U.S. Forest Service employees through the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. According to USDA, the action is intended to advance implementation of a grazing agreement between the USDA and the Department of the Interior and support livestock producers who rely on public lands for grazing.

The directive calls for expanding access to vacant and closed grazing allotments, increasing flexibility for grazing operations, reducing permitting delays, improving communication with ranchers, and giving producers a greater voice in the management process.

USDA officials said the policy builds on the agency’s October 2025 plan to support the U.S. beef industry and a March 2026 memorandum of understanding between the USDA and Department of the Interior focused on grazing management.

According to the department, approximately 23,000 permittees and lessees use public rangelands administered by federal agencies. USDA said the new directive is intended to help maintain working lands while supporting rural economies and domestic food production.

The announcement applies to National Forest System lands and is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to increase grazing access on federal lands.