Story perspectives

Rollins Proposes Rescinding 2001 Roadless Rule, 45M Acres

8/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule.
The rollback would remove protections on roughly 45 million acres of national forest land.
More than 625,000 public comments were submitted, with 99 % opposing the rescission.
Federal Register estimates the change could cut recreation earnings by $6.1 million annually while adding $5.2-$11.4 million federal revenue.
In Wyoming, up to 2.36 million acres could receive new permanent or temporary roads.

History

Historical Context

Howard Zahniser’s Wilderness Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3 1964, created the National Wilderness Preservation System and protected 9.1 million acres. The 2001 Roadless Rule later extended protection to additional forest lands. A proposal to repeal that rule now threatens those areas, prompting hundreds of thousands of comments and echoing the original 1964 debate.

1 of 2

Story summary

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule.
The rollback would remove protections on roughly 45 million acres of national forest land.
More than 625,000 public comments were submitted, with 99 % opposing the rescission.
Federal Register estimates the change could cut recreation earnings by $6.1 million annually while adding $5.2-$11.4 million federal revenue.
In Wyoming, up to 2.36 million acres could receive new permanent or temporary roads.

1 / 2