MONTANA — The Trump administration issued a plan allowing dirt bikes, ATVs, trucks, snowmobiles, and other off-road vehicles on tens of millions of acres of public lands and national parks. Trump rescinded executive orders from the Nixon and Carter administrations that had restricted off-road vehicle use.

Trump directed federal agency leaders to draft new rules opening public lands to these vehicles. A U.S. Forest Service spokesperson stated, "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." The U.S. Forest Service is preparing to open 5 million acres of parkland to off-road vehicles, primarily in Idaho and Montana.

The previous executive orders prevented off-road vehicles from traversing all areas of a national park. The Nixon administration’s executive order, issued more than 50 years ago, limited off-road vehicle access to protect wildlife and prevent disputes, requiring vehicles to use established roads or trails to minimize ecological harm. The Carter administration issued a second executive order providing similar environmental protections for federal lands. A Trump administration fact sheet characterized these previous limits as outdated and burdensome.

Vera Smith, director of national forests and public lands for Defenders of Wildlife, said, "Trump’s move is reckless and nonsensical." Smith added, "This rescission is yet another loss for wildlife and natural places." Randi Spivak, director of public lands for the Center for Biological Diversity, said, "The Trump administration is taking a very systematic approach to dismantling protections for public lands." Spivak also stated, "This will end badly for the bears."

Research indicates bears begin to leave habitat regions when road density reaches at least one mile per square mile. Off-road vehicles operating near streams damage riparian plant life and deposit sediment into waterways. Environmental groups cannot file lawsuits over the rescission of the executive orders, but they plan to monitor the subsequent rule-making process.