The Trump administration has initiated plans to strip protections from approximately 44 million acres of national forests by proposing the repeal of the Roadless Rule. This move, which administration officials argue is necessary to reduce wildfire risk, has drawn fierce criticism from conservationists. They warn that opening these pristine lands to logging and road construction would significantly harm biodiversity and the environment. The U.S. Forest Service is pursuing steps to dismantle these long-standing protections, raising concerns over the potential impact on wild areas, including New England’s last remaining wild landscapes and the Tongass National Forest. The ongoing controversy highlights a significant shift in federal forest management policy amidst growing environmental advocacy.