Trump's Latest Executive Order Opens Public Lands: Here's What It Means For Off-Roaders

At the start of the month, President Trump rescinded two executive orders covering where and with what you can drive within America's public lands and National Parks. The Forest Service says that millions of acres of public land will be open to what the government calls "Off-Road Vehicles," or ORVs. These aren't just cars with all-terrain tires you buy at the dealer: these are a legal classification of motor vehicle that now has more access to more acreage as a result of the executive orders. Here's what it means.

Trump's New Off-Road Vehicle Repeals

President Trump, in essence, issued a single executive order to rescind two: EO 11644 and 11989. The former was signed by Nixon in 1972, creating a "unified Federal policy toward the use of such vehicles on the public lands" for what the government would define as ORVs. Think: ATVs, side-by-sides, and the like. The second, EO 11989, was signed by President Carter. This gave federal agencies like the Forest Service more freedom in how they designated what areas ORVs and 4x4s could use, generally with an eye towards conservation. It allowed agencies to determine "that the use of ORVs will cause or is causing considerable adverse effects on the soil, vegetation, wildlife, wildlife habitat or cultural or historic resources of particular areas or trails of the public lands

They can do just that. Their tires leave plastics in the wilderness that can disrupt ecosystems; the emissions can harm air quality; and the physical passage of the vehicles themselves can also hurt ecosystems and damage land intended for everyone to enjoy.

The Trump Administration says that both orders are redundant within federal law, and that they present certain barriers for those wishing to use public land for recreation or industrial use. As a result of the orders, ORVs gain access to scores more roads and designated recreation areas on public lands. However, use is still restricted to trails and recreation areas.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 7:24 AM.