Full Breakdown
President Trump Rescinds Decades-Old Off-Road Vehicle Orders, Aiming to Expand Federal Land Access
6/1/2026, 12:07:45 AM
Executive Order Rescinds Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions
On May 29 2026 President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands.” The order formally rescinds Executive Order 11644 (1972) and Executive Order 11989 (1977), which had set criteria for designating off-road vehicle (OHV) use on federal lands.
Historical Context of EO 11644 & 11989
The 1972 and 1977 orders required agencies to apply vague criteria—such as minimizing wildlife harassment, reducing user conflicts, and protecting scenic values—when permitting OHV access. Agencies have cited these criteria as sources of permit delays, closures, and barriers to energy, timber, and utility projects.
Principal Actors
Key participants include President Trump; the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and War; the Tennessee Valley Authority Board; and the land-management agencies BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. The BlueRibbon Coalition, a long-standing OHV advocacy group, has also commented on the order.
Official Statements
The White House asserted that modern environmental statutes already provide sufficient protection, making the older orders “unnecessary and potentially restrictive.” Federal officials framed the rescission as part of a broader effort to restore a “multiple-use” balance among recreation, energy development, grazing, and conservation.
Impact and Opposition
Proponents say the change will lower regulatory barriers, potentially speeding energy, timber, and utility projects while expanding OHV recreation. Environmental groups warn that eliminating the specific criteria could weaken safeguards for wildlife habitats and scenic values, echoing earlier concerns over the BLM’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule.
Current Conditions and Uncertainties
Existing trail closures, wilderness designations, and other land-use restrictions remain in effect; riders must follow current BLM and Forest Service travel-management plans. The order does not automatically reopen trails or suspend environmental reviews, and implementation depends on agency-led rulemakings, public comment, and appropriations, leaving the timeline for access changes unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My Administration has eliminated a record number of unnecessary regulations to further our Nation’s prosperity and reduce regulatory burdens on industries critical to our national and economic security while keeping sufficient environmental protections in place.” — President Donald J. Trump, White House
- “A Shift Toward Multiple Use The order is part of a broader effort by the administration to emphasize the multiple-use mission of federal lands.” — Federal officials, Federal Register
- “(National Archives) According to the White House, modern environmental laws and land-management regulations already provide agencies with the tools necessary to protect public lands, making the older executive orders unnecessary and potentially restrictive.” — White House, statement
Next Steps
The Interior, Agriculture, and War departments, together with the Tennessee Valley Authority, must begin rulemakings to revise or repeal regulations tied to the rescinded orders. Proposed changes will undergo public notice, comment, environmental review, and budgeting before any alteration to OHV access occurs.
