More than a million Americans weigh in on the future of the Roadless Rule
The public comment period on the USDA’s proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule has officially closed, and Americans have sent a powerful message in support of backcountry forests.
More than 1.2 million comments were submitted in response to the proposal, with initial estimates showing more than 99% support for keeping the Roadless Rule in place (source). This is an overwhelming show of support, during a relatively short comment period, for the Roadless Rule.
For more than 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 58 million acres of national forests from most new road building and large-scale logging, while allowing a wide range of recreation opportunities. These landscapes include some of the country's best places for hiking, mountain biking, climbing, paddling, backcountry skiing, hunting, and fishing. They also provide clean water, wildlife habitat, and important ecological benefits.
The administration's planned rescission would eliminate these longstanding protections outside of Colorado and Idaho, putting approximately 45 million acres of national forests at risk of new road construction and development.
Over the last several months, Outdoor Alliance and our partners have worked to mobilize the outdoor recreation community to defend the Roadless Rule. Together, we've helped generate 68,000 comments and more than 143,000 messages to lawmakers, demonstrating just how deeply Americans care about protecting these places.
Why comments matter
Despite overwhelming public opposition, the administration may move forward with rescinding the Roadless Rule. But that doesn't mean the public comment process was for nothing.
Public participation is a fundamental part of how our government makes decisions. Federal agencies are required to consider public input and respond to significant substantive concerns raised during the rulemaking process. The comments submitted over the last several months create an important public record of the consequences of rescinding the Roadless Rule and the widespread support for keeping these protections in place.
The administration must consider and address significant concerns raised in the comments, including questions about the impacts on recreation, clean water, and the environment. If the administration moves forward with rescission, the record will help establish whether the agency adequately considered the consequences of its decision—important information for any potential legal challenge. It will also inform future legislative and administrative efforts to protect our national forests.
It also sends a powerful message to Congress. Americans across the country, including outdoor recreationists, local communities, businesses, and conservation advocates, want these landscapes protected. Lawmakers are paying attention to the public response, and they have an opportunity to act on that support by defending the Roadless Rule and advancing more durable protections, including legislation like the Roadless Area Conservation Act or conservation bills that focus on a specific geography.
What's next for the Roadless Rule?
With the comment period closed, USDA will review the comments and continue the environmental review and rulemaking process, with a final decision expected in early 2027. The Roadless Rule remains in place during this process, meaning these longstanding protections are still intact for now.
In the meantime, Outdoor Alliance will continue working with our coalition partners, lawmakers, and advocates across the country to defend our backcountry forests.
The public has spoken. Now it's time for decision-makers to listen. If you haven’t already written your lawmakers to defend the rule, you can do so below: