Administration destroys 50-year-old safeguards for shared public lands
White House
Mason Cummings, TWS
Nixon-era protections helped reduce conflict between public land users and protect clean water, wildlife habitat and outdoor experiences
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2026) — The administration today rescinded long-standing executive orders that have helped guide responsible off-road vehicle management on national public lands for more than 50 years. The Nixon-era safeguards provided a common-sense framework for reducing conflicts between public land users while protecting clean water, wildlife habitat and fragile landscapes.
The move is part of a broader deregulatory agenda that has already targeted the Roadless Rule, the BLM Public Lands Rule and other foundational public lands protections.
Alison Flint, Acting Vice President for Federal Policy at The Wilderness Society, made the following statement:
“Public lands are big enough for hikers, hunters, horseback riders, mountain bikers, motorized users and families looking for quiet places to camp, if we are wise about how we share them.
“For more than 50 years, common-sense safeguards have helped land managers reduce conflicts, protect clean water and wildlife habitat, and make sure public lands can be enjoyed by everyone. This administration is working to destroy this foundation, which has been in place since Richard Nixon.
“This is a cynical attempt to pit public land users against one another while weakening the rules that protect the land itself. Our children and grandchildren deserve public lands that are healthy, shared and cared for—not places where decades of balanced management are tossed aside for special interests.”
About The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society is a national conservation organization dedicated to protecting America’s wild places since 1935. Through science, advocacy and partnerships with communities and policymakers, we champion the protection of wilderness, national parks, forests, and other public lands that provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat and the freedom to connect with nature. For more information, visit www.wilderness.org.
