Forest Service chief's industry past fuels debate over Trump’s roadless rule rollback
The Trump administration plans to repeal the 2001 roadless rule, a move that could benefit timber firms linked to Forest Service chief Tom Schultz.
Donald Trump revealed plans to revoke the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a policy enacted in 2001 that restricts development on roughly 45 million acres of national forest. The repeal is expected to aid timber companies that former Forest Service chief Tom Schultz once represented as a lobbyist and executive, according to Public Citizen research. Schultz, who previously led the Federal Forest Resource Coalition and served as vice-president at Idaho Forest Group, has long criticized the rule as an obstacle to revenue and forest management.
The administration contends that removing the rule will lower wildfire risk and support active forest management, though studies suggest it could threaten about 400 endangered species and ecosystems. Industry groups such as the American Forest Resource Council have actively lobbied for the rollback, arguing that road access is essential for fire suppression. Critics point to data showing that roads can increase human-caused fires and question the claimed benefits for wildfire response.
Why it matters
The decision could reshape millions of acres of public land, affecting wildlife, wildfire safety, and the timber industry.
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