Trump Administration Declares Emergency to Expand Logging Across 59% of U.S. National Forests

The policy aims to boost timber production by 25% over five years, bypassing environmental protections and sparking concerns over ecological impacts.

An April 3 memo from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins designates nearly 113 million acres of national forest land for expedited logging, citing wildfire risks and declining forest health.
The emergency declaration exempts these areas from environmental reviews, streamlining permitting and other processes to accelerate timber production.
President Trump's directive sets a goal of increasing U.S. timber output by 25% over the next four to five years, with the U.S. Forest Service tasked to develop regional five-year strategies.
Environmental experts and conservation groups argue the policy will cause long-term ecological harm and fail to effectively mitigate wildfire risks.
California and other Western states are expected to see significant impacts, with logging prioritized in areas that have not experienced commercial-scale operations for decades.