Trump Rescinds Decades-Old Off-Road Vehicle Orders: What It Means for National Parks

Late last week, President Trump rescinded two executive orders from the 1970s that had governed off-road vehicle use on federal lands. S. Forest Service plan to open millions of acres to ORVs, has sparked debate among drivers, conservationists, and policy watchers. Here’s a breakdown of the changes, what they actually do, and what remains the same.

**What the Executive Orders Did**

Executive Order 11644, signed by President Nixon in 1972, established a unified federal policy for off-road vehicles on public lands, defining ORVs and setting usage rules. Executive Order 11989, signed by President Carter later that decade, gave federal agencies authority to close areas to ORVs when they caused significant damage to soil, vegetation, wildlife, or cultural resources.

The Trump administration argues these orders are redundant with existing federal laws—including the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act—and that they created unnecessary barriers to recreational and industrial use.

**What Actually Changes**

Not as much as headlines suggest. While ORVs will gain access to more designated trails and recreation areas, it’s far from a free-for-all. Driving off-road remains illegal on public land, and the definition of an off-road vehicle—broadly, any four-wheel-drive vehicle or one weighing at least 6,000 pounds with specific ground clearance and angles—stays unchanged.

Federal codes under Titles 36 and 43 still restrict ORVs to marked routes, with fines and prison time for violations.

**What Stays the Same**

The Wilderness Act of 1964 remains in effect, prohibiting motor vehicles in designated wilderness areas. Agency heads can still modify wilderness boundaries through public hearings and presidential recommendation, but no immediate widespread changes are expected. Conservation groups worry about long-term impacts, while enthusiasts see a win for access—but both sides agree it’s not a dramatic shift overnight.

For now, drivers should stick to designated trails, respect closures, and remember that treading lightly helps keep these spaces open for everyone.