Trump Rescinds 50-Year-Old Nixon and Carter Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions on Federal Lands

On May 29, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order titled 'Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands,' rescinding Executive Order 11644 (Nixon, 1972) and Executive Order 11989 (Carter, 1977) — the twin pillars of federal off-road vehicle management for over 50 years. The two orders had required federal land managers to designate ORV areas using criteria aimed at minimizing damage to soil, watersheds, vegetation, and wildlife habitats, and gave agencies authority to immediately close areas experiencing ecological harm from motorized vehicles. The Trump White House called the orders 'outdated and burdensome,' arguing that modern statutory frameworks — including NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, and FLPMA — already provide sufficient tools for land protection without the additional subjective criteria. The order does not automatically reopen any closed trails; it instead directs relevant agencies including the BLM, Forest Service, and NPS to initiate rulemakings to revise or rescind implementing regulations. Conservation groups, including the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and the Center for Western Priorities, warned that the rollback could cause lasting ecological damage to public lands, including national parks like Arches and Canyonlands.

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