Trump administration seeks to repeal 2001 forest protection rule

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that it will rescind a 2001 regulation that limited the ability of state, tribal and private land managers to conduct certain forest‑fuel reduction activities. The agency said the reversal is intended to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfires by allowing more flexible, locally driven management practices on forested lands under USDA jurisdiction.

The 2001 rule, issued under the Bush administration, required federal approval for many prescribed‑burn and mechanical thinning projects, a process that critics argued slowed mitigation efforts and created bottlenecks for on‑the‑ground crews. By eliminating the rule, the USDA will return decision‑making authority to regional forest supervisors and partner agencies, enabling faster implementation of fuel‑breaks, vegetation thinning and other treatments that have been shown to reduce fire intensity. USDA officials noted that the change aligns with recent congressional directives and with the department’s broader strategy to integrate climate‑resilience measures into land‑use planning.

The department expects the policy shift to accelerate ongoing projects across the West and to support new initiatives aimed at protecting communities adjacent to forested areas. Implementation will begin with updated guidance to field offices later this year, and the USDA will monitor outcomes to assess the impact on wildfire behavior and ecosystem health.