Environment & Climate
Forest Service Chief Faces Scrutiny over Logging Ties as Trump Moves to End Roadless Rule
The Trump administration's plan to rescind protections on 45 million acres of national forest faces criticism over Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz's past industry advocacy.
The short version
- The Trump administration announced plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, opening roughly 45 million acres of national forest to road building, logging, and drilling.
- US Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, a former timber industry lobbyist and executive, faces scrutiny from research group Public Citizen for pushing policies that could benefit his former employers and trade allies.
- Administration officials and timber industry groups argue the repeal is critical for active forest management and improving road access for firefighting.
- Conservationists and research analysts counter that expanding road access increases the risk of human-ignited wildfires and threatens about 400 endangered or threatened species.
Key facts
- The Trump administration announced plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which restricts development across roughly 45 million acres of national forest.[The Guardian]
- US Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz previously served as president of the Federal Forest Resource Coalition and vice president of Idaho Forest Group before his appointment in February 2025.[The Guardian]
- Research by advocacy group Public Citizen asserts that the rollback of the roadless rule will directly benefit timber companies previously represented by Schultz.[The Guardian]
- The American Forest Resource Council has spent more than $210,000 lobbying to expand logging in national forests since Schultz assumed leadership of the agency.[The Guardian]
- Schultz signed an agreement in December 2025 with Idaho's governor to double federal timber sales from national forests within the state.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The net impact of road construction on overall wildfire management remains disputed, as supporters claim roads enable firefighter access while critics point to data showing wildfires are nearly three times as likely to start near roads.[The Guardian]