US administration rescinds 'roadless rule' for national forests, impacting 45 million acres

The US government has rescinded the Clinton-era 'roadless rule,' removing protections from 45 million acres of national forest land to allow for road construction, logging, and drilling. A report from the Center for Biological Diversity estimates this policy shift threatens 7.4 million acres of endangered species habitat and 1,800 miles of protected waterways. The long-term ecological impact remains subject to debate regarding the balance between resource extraction and conservation mandates.