2025: Aaron Flint Praised The Recission Of The Roadless Rule, Which Would Affect 6.4 Million Acres Of Land In Montana, Jeopardizing Big Game Hunting Habitats, Reducing The Bull Trout Population, And Increasing The Risk Of Wildfires

June 2025: Flint Supported The Trump Administration’s Recission Of The Roadless Rule, Saying It Was “Huge News For Better Management Of Our Federal Lands”

June 2025: Flint: “The Rescission Of The Roadless Rule Last Week Was HUGE News For Better Management Of Our Federal Lands.” “The rescission of the roadless rule last week was HUGE news for better management of our federal lands.” [Aaron Flint, Twitter, 6/30/25]

Image: see original report, p. 27

[Aaron Flint, Twitter, 6/30/25]

June 2025: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Announced Plans To End The 2001 Roadless Rule, Which Would Affect 6.4 Million Acres Of Land In Montana

June 2025: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Announced Her Plan To End The 2001 Roadless Rule. “The U.S. Forest Service formally began rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule on Aug. 29. […] In an Aug. 27 press release, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins declared that revoking the rule was ‘one step closer to common sense management of our national forests.’ She linked the effort to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation to ‘get rid of overcomplicated, burdensome barriers that hamper American business and innovation.’ Rollins first announced her intention to open 58 million acres of inventoried roadless Forest Service land to development on June 23.” [Montana Free Press, 9/1/25]

• August 2025: The U.S. Forest Service Formally Began Rescinding The Roadless Rule. “The U.S. Forest Service formally began rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule on Aug. 29.” [Montana Free Press, 9/1/25]

The Roadless Rule Prohibited Building Roads Or Harvesting Timber On 6.4 Million Acres Of Forest Service Land In Montana. “Keep the 2001 Roadless Rule in place, and you’ll ensure elk have a healthy habitat, and you’ll still be able to reduce wildfire risk. Those were some of the arguments former U.S. Forest Service employees made Friday at the edge of the Silver King Inventoried Roadless Area east of Missoula. […] The rule prohibits building roads and harvesting timber on 30% of Forest Service land in the country, or 60 million acres. In Montana, that’s 6.4 million acres, or 37% of Forest Service land in the state. In June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, parent agency of the Forest Service, announced plans to rescind the rule, enacted at the end of the Clinton administration.” [Daily Montanan, 2/20/26]

The Roadless Rule Provided A Secure Habitat For Big Game Such As Elk On Public Land Where They Were Accessible To Hunters

Roadless Rule Montana: “Roadless Areas Also Provide Secure Habitat During Hunting Season That Keeps Big Game On Public Land Where They Are Accessible To Hunters In Top Hunting Areas.” “93% of elk summer range in Montana is found within roadless areas. Roadless areas also provide secure habitat during hunting season that keeps big game on public land where they are accessible to hunters in top hunting areas like the Elkhorns, Snowcrest Range, and Rocky Mountain Front.” [Roadless Rule Montana, Facts and Sources, accessed 5/7/26]

93% Of Elk Summer Range In Montana Was In Roadless Areas. “93% of elk summer range in Montana is found within roadless areas. Roadless areas also provide secure habitat during hunting season that keeps big game on public land where they are accessible to hunters in top hunting areas like the Elkhorns, Snowcrest Range, and Rocky Mountain Front.” [Roadless Rule Montana, Facts and Sources, accessed 5/7/26]

Former U.S. Forestry Service Officials Said The Roadless Rule Ensured Elk Had A Healthy Habitat. “Punch more roads through the forest, and you’ll get more people starting fires, fewer bull trout and an even heftier maintenance bill. Keep the 2001 Roadless Rule in place, and you’ll ensure elk have a healthy habitat, and you’ll still be able to reduce wildfire risk. Those were some of the arguments former U.S. Forest Service employees made Friday at the edge of the Silver King Inventoried Roadless Area east of Missoula.” [Daily Montanan, 2/20/26]

• Daily Montanan Headline: “Keep ‘Roadless Rule’ In Place, Say Former Forest Service Officials.” [Daily Montanan, 2/20/26]

The Roadless Rule Helped Provide A Habitat For Fish, And Former Forest Officials Said More Roads In The Forest Would Lead To Fewer Bull Trout

Jeff Lukas Of Montana Trout Unlimited Said The Roadless Rule Helped “Ensure Good Habitat For Deer, Elk And Fish.” “Jeff Lukas, with Montana Trout Unlimited, said roadless areas are some of the most productive for fish and wildlife habitat, and they support clean water and offer social and economic benefits. ‘The rule is vital to protecting the backcountry experiences so many Montanans enjoy,’ Lukas said. ‘It helps ensure good habitat for deer, elk and fish, it protects clean drinking water, and contributes to our quality of life in Montana.’” [Daily Montanan, 2/20/26]

• Lukas: “The Rule Is Vital To Protecting The Backcountry Experiences So Many Montanans Enjoy.” “Jeff Lukas, with Montana Trout Unlimited, said roadless areas are some of the most productive for fish and wildlife habitat, and they support clean water and offer social and economic benefits. ‘The rule is vital to protecting the backcountry experiences so many Montanans enjoy,’ Lukas said. ‘It helps ensure good habitat for deer, elk and fish, it protects clean drinking water, and contributes to our quality of life in Montana.’” [Daily Montanan, 2/20/26]

79% Of Roadless Areas In Montana Were Home To Native Trout, Including Bull Trout. “79% of roadless areas in Montana are home to native trout, including bull trout, Westslope cutthroat trout, and Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Studies have demonstrated that roads can negatively impact trout populations by causing water quality degradation from increased sediment and pollutants, as well as altered stream channels, fragmented habitat, and migration barriers.” [Roadless Rule Montana, Facts and Sources, accessed 5/7/26]

Former U.S. Forest Service Officials Said More Roads In The Forest East Of Missoula Would Lead To Fewer Bull Trout. “Punch more roads through the forest, and you’ll get more people starting fires, fewer bull trout and an even heftier maintenance bill. Keep the 2001 Roadless Rule in place, and you’ll ensure elk have a healthy habitat, and you’ll still be able to reduce wildfire risk. Those were some of the arguments former U.S. Forest Service employees made Friday at the edge of the Silver King Inventoried Roadless Area east of Missoula.” [Daily Montanan, 2/20/26]

Former Forest Officials Said More Roads In The Forest Would Mean More People Starting Wildfires

2026: Former U.S. Forest Service Officials Said More Roads In The Forest East Of Missoula Would Lead To People Starting Fires. “Punch more roads through the forest, and you’ll get more people starting fires, fewer bull trout and an even heftier maintenance bill. Keep the 2001 Roadless Rule in place, and you’ll ensure elk have a healthy habitat, and you’ll still be able to reduce wildfire risk. Those were some of the arguments former U.S. Forest Service employees made Friday at the edge of the Silver King Inventoried Roadless Area east of Missoula.” [Daily Montanan, 2/20/26]

As Of 2023, 78% Of Human-Caused Fires On National Forests Nationwide Started Within Half A Mile Of A Road. “As of 2023, 78% of human-caused fires on national forests nationwide start within ½ mile of a road. 85% of all wildfires are human-caused. Wildfires are four times more likely to start near roads.” [Roadless Rule Montana, Facts and Sources, accessed 5/7/26]

85% Of All Wildfires Were Caused By Humans. “85% of all wildfires are human-caused. Wildfires are four times more likely to start near roads.” [Roadless Rule Montana, Facts and Sources, accessed 5/7/26]