Trump expands access to America’s public lands and waterways, foster and recruit the next generation of hunters

EXPANDING ACCESS AND PROMOTING AMERICA’S HUNTING HERITAGE 

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to expand access to America’s public lands and waterways, foster and recruit the next generation of hunters, and promote robust and healthy wild game populations.

• The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to expand hunting opportunities in select federal lands that would not put objects of historic and scientific interest at risk.
• The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce to propose changes to polices that prevent access of public lands for recreation, infrastructure repair, and wildlife management, as well as to encourage volunteers to manage wildlife populations and invasive species, allow the use assistive technology on access trails and hunting locations for people with disabilities, and allow the use of traditional lead ammo and tackle. 
• The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce to unlock checkerboarded and landlocked parcels through voluntary access easements, land exchanges, and cooperative agreements that respect private property rights. 
• The Order directs the Secretary of Agriculture to review and reform high-demand Forest Service-administered river access lotteries to prioritize United States citizens and prior applicants who haven’t previously received access via lottery, and to prohibit automatic computer entries.
• The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to streamline regulations for authorizing seasonal migratory game bird hunting and to encourage States to promote and expand Sunday hunting on State and Federal lands. 
• The Order directs the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify, clarify, and prioritize opportunities and incentives to cultivate the hunting tradition in young Americans and veterans using existing Federal funding and authorities.
• The Order directs the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Agriculture to coordinate with States to align management practices and conservation plans in order to promote the growth of critical game species populations.
• The Order directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to support and encourage States to increase wild game donations for consumption in schools, food banks, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program. 

CUTTING RED TAPE TO RESTORE AMERICA’S HUNTING TRADITION: President Trump is cutting red tape, rolling back restrictions, and expanding hunting opportunities for Americans.

• Hunting drives healthy and abundant animal populations, conserves our beautiful wildlife for future generations, and ensures that every American can enjoy our rugged, diverse, and untamed frontiers.
• Due to years of overregulation by other administrations, until President Trump’s actions, accessing hunting had never been more difficult. Hunting opportunities in the United States have declined due to Federal regulatory overreach, confusing and inconsistent policies, and heavy-handed restrictions.
• America’s hunting heritage must be reinvigorated, protected, and expanded to benefit Americans. 
• American hunters and anglers need better access to our nation’s lands and the next generation of Americans must have the opportunity to share in our nation’s rich sporting heritage.

REIGNING IN GOVERNMENT OVERREACH: President Trump is restoring access to Federal lands while conserving and protecting America’s natural resources.

• During President Trump’s first term, he signed the Great American Outdoors Act—the single largest investment in America’s national parks and public lands in history and the most significant conservation achievement since Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency.
  • By the end of President Trump’s first term, his Administration designated 1.3 million new acres of wilderness, added 1,645 miles of new trails to the National Recreational Trails System, and expanded hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres of land.
• Immediately upon returning to office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to Unleash American Energy that opened hundreds of millions of acres of Federal lands and waters to energy development and streamlined permitting to increase production of reliable and affordable energy.
• In February 2025, President Trump’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) rescinded its NEPA regulations, clearing the way for CEQ to lead individual agencies as they reformed their own NEPA policies in order to eliminate unnecessary red tape and speed environmental review for permits and other government actions.
• In July 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the Make America Beautiful Again (MABA) Commission to conserve America’s lands and waters, cut red tape, and drive conservation and economic growth.
  • In July 2026, the MABA Commission issued its midterm report to ensure that our Nation’s next 250 years are beautiful, successful, and secure.

• In May 2026, Department of the Interior rescinded the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule, reaffirming the commitment to restoring balance in Federal land management by prioritizing multiple use access, elevating local decision-making, and supporting responsible energy development, ranching, grazing, timber production, and recreation.
• In May 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order rescinding outdated restrictions on access to Federal lands, restoring balanced land management and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens.
• In August 2026, the Department of Agriculture took action to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule that prevents road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest on nearly 45 million acres of the National Forest System.