Northwest Lawmakers Call For Roadless Rule To Stay

A bipartisan group of 164 members of Congress, led by Oregon’s Andrea Salinas and Washington’s Maria Cantwell, is urging the Trump Administration not to rescind the federal Roadless Rule. The lawmakers said in a letter this week the rule protects 44 million acres of undeveloped national forest land across 37 states, safeguarding clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, carbon storage and recreation.

“The enduring support for the Roadless Rule is rooted in its clear and measurable benefits," the letter said. "Over the past 25 years, the rule has helped protect watersheds, biodiversity, and ecosystem integrity by limiting road construction and large-scale logging in undeveloped areas. Forest Service data show that watersheds within roadless areas are far more likely to be in “properly functioning” condition compared to those outside of them, which are more often classified as “at risk” or “impaired.””

The Roadless Rule Is Beneficial When It Comes To Wildfire Efforts

The lawmakers argue rescinding the rule could increase road construction and logging in remote areas, while adding costs for taxpayers. The Forest Service already faces nearly $6 billion in road maintenance needs.

The lawmakers also say roadless areas can be managed for wildfire, noting the rule allows fuels reduction and fire suppression.

They’re calling for a longer public comment period, in-person meetings and full Tribal consultation before any decision is made.

“The Roadless Rule was developed through one of the most robust public processes in federal rulemaking history," the letter stated. "The Forest Service received 1.6 million public comments - approximately 95% in support - and held over 600 public meetings nationwide. In contrast, the current rescission effort has lacked meaningful public engagement. The Department provided just 21 days for public comment on the Notice of Intent in 2025 and has yet to hold any public meetings. Despite these limitations, more than 600,000 comments were submitted, with over 99 percent opposing rescission. This overwhelming and bipartisan public support underscores the continued popularity and importance of the Roadless Rule. Unsurprisingly, at just 30 days, the ongoing comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and proposed rule is equally insufficient, and we encourage the USFS to extend the comment period to 120 days for a fair and transparent process.”

Click Here to read the entire letter.

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