USDA declares emergency logging initiative on 112 million acres of national forest—leftist environmentalists throw tantrum as common sense forest management returns to America.
At a Glance
- Secretary Brooke Rollins issued an emergency declaration allowing logging on 59% of national forests to reduce wildfire risk
- The initiative aims to increase timber production by 25% over the next 4-5 years while expediting approval processes
- Environmental groups like Earthjustice oppose the measure, calling it a “handout to the logging industry”
- The directive aligns with President Trump’s Executive Orders to reduce reliance on imported lumber and boost domestic production
- U.S. timber sales have plummeted from 12 billion to just 3 billion board feet annually due to excessive environmental regulations
National Forests in Crisis: The Emergency Declaration
Finally, some sanity has returned to our forest management policies. On April 4, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins declared a national emergency across 112 million acres of forest land—that’s 59 percent of our national forests. The reason? They’re literally kindling waiting for a spark.
Years of misguided “hands-off” environmental policies have created a powder keg of overgrown forests, dead trees, and invasive species that practically scream “burn me” every summer. It’s about time someone in Washington recognized what every rural American already knows: our forests are in serious trouble.
The emergency declaration cuts through the bureaucratic red tape that has strangled sensible forest management for decades. Under this directive, the Forest Service can expedite approval for logging activities that would otherwise be trapped in endless environmental reviews. Acting Associate Chief Christopher French has been tasked with streamlining these approval processes—a thankless job that will inevitably be met with lawsuits from environmental zealots who seem to prefer seeing forests burn rather than be responsibly harvested. But the facts don’t lie: severe wildfires, insect and disease outbreaks, and invasive species have created a crisis that requires immediate action.
As part of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s hazardous fuels reduction efforts, both Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts’ fire crews will begin pile burning on National Forest System land when weather and fuel conditions permit over the next several months.
Prescribed fire… pic.twitter.com/6qOPFeHGDA
— Humboldt Toiyabe NF (@HumboldtToiyabe) February 15, 2025
The Left’s Predictable Outrage
Right on cue, the environmental lobby is throwing a fit. Earthjustice, one of the many green groups that has helped create this forest management disaster through endless litigation, calls the emergency determination “absurdly vast” and “poorly justified.” Apparently, they believe letting trees burn to a crisp in catastrophic wildfires is preferable to harvesting them sustainably. Their spokesperson, Blaine Miller-McFeeley, claims this is just “a handout to the logging industry.” Because heaven forbid we actually use our natural resources in a responsible way that creates American jobs and reduces fire danger.
“This absurdly vast, and poorly justified, emergency determination aims to boost logging and reduce environmental safeguards across most national forestlands in a handout to the logging industry”, says Blaine Miller-McFeeley.
The same groups claim logging could “harm forest ecosystems” and impact the outdoor recreation economy. Let’s think about that for a second. What harms forest ecosystems more—controlled, selective logging or catastrophic wildfires that burn so hot they sterilize the soil? What impacts outdoor recreation more—temporary logging operations or millions of acres of charred, dead trees and smoke-filled skies that close parks for months on end? The lack of basic logic is astounding, but that’s what happens when ideology trumps reality. These people won’t be satisfied until every American lumber job is shipped overseas.
Restoring American Timber Production
Here’s a shocking statistic that should make every American’s blood boil: despite having some of the most abundant forests in the world, the United States has been a net importer of lumber since 2016. That’s right—we’re buying lumber from other countries while our own forests grow dangerously overstocked or burn to the ground. Under the stranglehold of environmental regulations, our national timber sales have plummeted from 12 billion board feet annually to a pathetic 3 billion board feet. Meanwhile, the cost of building materials has skyrocketed, making homes less affordable for everyday Americans.
“Healthy forests require work, and right now, we’re facing a national forest emergency. We have an abundance of timber at high risk of wildfires in our National Forests”, says Brooke Rollins.
President Trump recognized this absurdity and issued executive orders to increase domestic timber production. As he correctly stated, “It is vital that we reverse these policies and increase domestic timber production to protect our national and economic security.” This isn’t just about cheaper lumber—it’s about national security, jobs, healthier forests, and reducing catastrophic wildfires.
The Forest Service’s target to increase timber production by 25 percent over the next four to five years is a step in the right direction, but after decades of neglect, we need to go further. Responsible forest management isn’t environmental destruction—it’s common sense stewardship that benefits everyone except the radical groups whose fundraising depends on crisis and conflict.
