For the last 25 years, 58 million acres of American forest have had no new roads, no logging equipment, and no reason to appear on anyone’s industrial map. This year that is changing — and much faster than most people realize. The 2001 Roadless Rule has functioned as a safeguard for some of the most secluded and pristine lands in the Western US. …On June 23, 2025, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the intent to rescind the rule entirely. As of 2026, the process has moved into its most critical phase; the USDA has announced an imminent release of the draft environmental impact statement and a formal proposed rule this spring. This release triggers a final public comment period. Compounding this shift, on March 31, the USDA issued a formal reorganization order for the Forest Service. This structural overhaul, including the moving or closure of regional offices and science centers, is anticipated to accelerate the implementation of extraction orders.