Energy & Environment — Trump moves to ax forest protections

View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story  Trump moves to open up  logging in national forests The Trump administration on Tuesday moved to strip protections from 44 million acres of national forest. Jenny Kane, Associated Press file The U.S. Forest Service has proposed to rescind the 2001 “Roadless Rule,” which prohibits road construction and logging in pristine parts of national forests that don’t currently have roads.   By blocking roads, the rule targeted by the administration also inhibits activity like mining and oil and gas drilling in these areas.    Officials said Tuesday that 44 million acres of the 193-million-acre National Forest System are subject to these protections.   In a press release, the administration argued the rule also impedes forest management and could exacerbate wildfires.   Read more at TheHill.com. Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: Court upholds EPA rule forcing polluters to pay for ‘forever chemical’ pollution An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule putting polluters on the hook to clean up toxic “forever chemicals” was upheld in court on Tuesday despite an industry challenge.  Full Story Trump posts map labeling Strait of Hormuz as US territory President Trump posted an image of a map labeling the Strait of Hormuz as a U.S. territory early on Tuesday in an apparent effort to double down on his calls to annex the waterway.   Full Story Almost 4 in 10 say extreme weather damaged their communities in past year: Survey Nearly 4 in 10 Americans say their communities were damaged by extreme weather events over the past year, according to a new survey released Tuesday.  Full Story What We’re Reading  News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Walz executive order moves to block copper mining near the Boundary Waters (MPR News) US oil producers set to ink production deals with Venezuela (Politico) What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Ossoff battle with Trump, White House gets nasty The White House and Sen. Jon Ossoff are engaged in an increasingly nasty fight that intensified after the Georgia Democrat, a rising star in his party, invoked President Trump’s longtime aide Natalie Harp in his insults of the commander-in-chief. Read more Preservationist group urges Supreme Court to keep White House ballroom paused The preservationist group trying to stop President Trump’s White House ballroom urged the Supreme Court to deny the administration’s emergency request to allow construction, calling it “astonishing” on Tuesday.  Read more   You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.