The Trump administration is at it again, plotting to strip away environmental protections faster than a tech bro selling NFTs.

In a move that screams “corporate greenwashing,” the administration is pushing to repeal the roadless rule, which currently protects 4.4 million acres of California’s national forests from logging and road construction.

The Corporate Land Grab

Under the guise of “fire prevention,” the Department of Agriculture claims this rule change will help local communities manage wildfire risks. But conservation experts aren’t buying it. Randi Spivak from the Center for Biological Diversity calls it what it really is: “a big handout to timber companies”.

The Real Fire Risk

Contrary to the administration’s claims, multiple studies suggest roads actually increase wildfire risks. Research shows forest areas with roads can see fire risks quadruple compared to roadless regions. Local fire experts like Dusty LaChapelle are skeptical, stating they can already access remote areas without additional road construction.

Environmental Justice

This isn’t just about trees. These roadless areas provide critical habitat for over 200 endangered species and protect vital watersheds. By opening these lands to logging, the Trump administration is essentially selling off California’s ecological heritage to the highest bidder.

Representative Jared Huffman cut to the chase, calling this move a plan that “puts millions of acres of forests on the chopping block to serve billionaire cronies in the mining and logging industries”.