On Friday, May 29, 2026, President Donald J. Trump officially rescinded two decades-old executive orders—originally signed by President Richard Nixon in 1972 and President Jimmy Carter in 1977—that strictly regulated and restricted the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) like ATVs, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles on public lands and national parks.

The Trump administration and supporters, such as Senator Mike Lee of Utah, framed the decision as a necessary step to eliminate “outdated and burdensome” regulations that created barriers to public access, resource production, and recreation. The White House argued that the 50-year-old criteria were overly vague and subjective, noting that modern technology and existing federal statutes, such as the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, already provide a sufficient framework for land management.

Under the newly issued executive order, relevant federal agencies are directed to initiate rulemakings to revise or rescind current ORV restrictions to promote greater access and balanced public land use.

Conversely, conservation groups and environmental advocates have sharply criticized the rollback, viewing it as part of a broader administration effort to prioritize commercial development, drilling, logging, and mining over conservation. Representatives from groups like the Center for Western Priorities and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance expressed deep concern that lifting these restrictions would lead to significant ecological degradation, displaced wildlife, and damaged habitats in highly sensitive areas like Utah’s red rock landscapes.

Critics argue that federal agencies already struggle to police public lands, and eliminating the mandates to minimize user conflicts and resource damage will overwhelm fragile ecosystems that have been protected for decades.