Trump opens public lands to off-road vehicles, critics call it ‘reckless and nonsensical’
President Donald Trump has rescinded executive orders from the Nixon and Carter eras that restricted off-road vehicle access, allowing dirt bikes, ATVs, and snowmobiles on millions of acres of public lands and national parks. Environmental groups warn the move threatens endangered species and destroys habitats.
The Trump administration is implementing a controversial plan to permit dirt bikes, ATVs, trucks, snowmobiles, and other off-road vehicles to traverse tens of millions of acres of public lands and national parks, drawing sharp criticism from environmental groups who say it endangers wildlife and ecosystems.
More than 50 years ago, the Nixon administration issued an executive order limiting off-road vehicle access to protect wildlife and prevent conflicts on federal land. The Carter administration later reinforced those protections. Trump has now rescinded both orders and directed federal agencies to draft new rules opening the lands to vehicles.
Opponents warn that desert tortoises, western snowy plovers, lynxes, grizzly bears, and sage-grouse are especially at risk. “This rescission is yet another loss for wildlife and natural places,” said Vera Smith, director of national forests and public lands for Defenders of Wildlife, calling the move “reckless and nonsensical.”
The action is part of a broader Trump effort to open public lands to industry and other uses. The administration has attempted to gut the Endangered Species Act, expand grazing and logging, boost oil exploration in protected areas, and remove other environmental protections.
Randi Spivak, director of public lands for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the administration is systematically dismantling protections. “Public lands are already so stilted to extraction that we need more protections,” she added.
In a fact sheet, Trump labeled the off-road vehicle limits “outdated and burdensome,” asserting that Americans should be able to access public lands without unnecessary regulations.
The Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service already maintain over 500,000 miles of roads for public use. However, the previous restrictions prevented vehicles from going everywhere in a park, which the new rules will allow.
Off-road vehicles fragment wildlife habitats, making them unsuitable for many species. Research shows grizzly bears begin to leave areas when road density reaches one mile per square mile. The new rules will force bears into closer contact with humans, leading to increased killings by state and federal agents.
Spivak said environmental groups cannot sue over the rescission of the executive orders but will monitor the new rulemaking process closely and take action if needed.
The US Forest Service is preparing to open 5 million acres of parkland to vehicles, mostly in Idaho and Montana. “As the United States marks 250 years of independence in 2026, we must shine a light on our nation’s greatest natural treasures and ensure every American can recreate on these majestic lands,” a Forest Service spokesperson stated.
