Republicans Block Wyden Legislation to Protect Roadless Rule
Roadless Rule currently protects 58 million acres of national forest from new road construction, mining, logging, and other commercial projects
Washington, D.C. – Senate Republicans today blocked an amendment offered by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., during a key Senate committee vote to preserve a 25-year-old rule that protects more than 58 million acres of national forest and public lands across Oregon and the country from new road construction, irresponsible mining and logging, and other environmentally-harmful commercial projects.
In Oregon alone, nearly 2 million acres are protected under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, including iconic outdoor recreation areas surrounding the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, Mt. Bachelor, and Mt. Hood National Forest.
A 2026 study covering three decades of national wildfire data found that wildfire ignition within 50 meters of roads is four times higher than non-wilderness, non-roadless forests. Roadless areas have the lowest fire ignition rates of any land category.
“There certainly are instances where you need active management,” Wyden said during today’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. “But when people hear that the Roadless Rule is being wiped out, they say nobody’s going in there with a scalpel. They’re going in there more with a cannon.”
The legislative package containing the Republican provision to repeal the “Roadless Rule” passed out of committee 11 to 9 over unanimous Democratic opposition.
Video of Wyden’s remarks can be found here.
“The Conservation Alliance and our business members applaud Senator Wyden’s efforts today to protect our nation’s forests. His proposed amendment would have beaten back a misguided, last-minute attempt to gut the Roadless Rule – one of the most important protections for America’s landscapes and places that are the lifeblood of outdoor businesses nationwide. We’re proud to stand with him and fellow conservation champions in defending tens of millions of acres worth fighting for,” said Rebecca Gillis, Vice President, Government Affairs & Advocacy, The Conservation Alliance.
“The 2001 Roadless Rule protects millions of acres of public lands valued by Americans for recreation, wildlife habitat, and clean air and water. Nine percent of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail runs through roadless areas that help create the trail’s unique and wild character while supporting recreation economies in many rural communities,” said Mark Larabee, advocacy director for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. “The PCTA thanks Senator Wyden for his efforts to protect these areas from unnecessary development. Nullifying the Roadless rule would be shortsighted.”
A web version of this release is here.