[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 33577-33578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11181]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 91 , No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2026 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 33577]]
Executive Order 14408 of May 29, 2026
Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive
Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. My Administration has eliminated a
record number of unnecessary regulations to further our
Nation's prosperity and reduce regulatory burdens on
industries critical to our national and economic
security while keeping sufficient environmental
protections in place. Executive Order 11644 of February
8, 1972 (Use of Off-Road Vehicles on the Public Lands),
and Executive Order 11989 of May 24, 1977 (Off-Road
Vehicles on Public Lands), are examples of this
excessive regulation. Both were issued about 50 years
ago when today's technology was not available to be
paired with existing Federal statutes.
The Congress has enacted or amended a comprehensive set
of statutory authorities to establish Federal land
policy, including the National Historic Preservation
Act, Public Law 89-665, 80 Stat. 915 (1966) (codified
as amended at 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), the National
Environmental Policy Act, Public Law 91-190, 83 Stat.
852 (1970) (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), the Endangered Species Act, Public Law 93-205,
87 Stat. 884 (1973) (codified as amended at 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), and the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act, Public Law 94-579, 90 Stat. 2743 (1976)
(codified as amended at 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). I have
determined that those statutory authorities, together
with executive department and agency (agency) specific
land management authorities, provide the appropriate
framework for managing off-road vehicle use on Federal
lands without retaining the additional specific
designation criteria imposed by Executive Order 11644
and Executive Order 11989. I have further determined
that technological, operational, and land-management
developments since the issuance of Executive Order
11644 and Executive Order 11989 support replacing those
specific criteria with a framework grounded in
applicable statutory authorities.
Executive Order 11644 and Executive Order 11989 direct
agencies to promulgate regulations providing that,
where off-road vehicle use is permitted on Federal
lands, roads, and trails, such use designations must be
made in accordance with ill-defined criteria
purportedly intended to minimize resource impacts and
conflicts between different users of Federal land.
These criteria, which are not required by statute, are
difficult for agencies to operationalize due to
vagueness, and include ``minimiz[ing] harassment of
wildlife or significant disruption of wildlife
habitats,'' minimizing ``conflicts between off-road
vehicle use and other existing or proposed recreational
uses . . . taking into account noise and other
factors,'' and ensuring that off-road vehicle use in
given locations will not ``adversely affect [the
location's] natural, aesthetic, or scenic values.''
These vague, subjective criteria often result in
barriers to energy and timber production and utility
maintenance, permit delays, and de facto bans on hiking
and other forms of recreation that require accessing
remote areas, all while doing little to benefit
multiple use of Federal lands.
Access to Federal lands benefits all American citizens.
Rescinding Executive Order 11644 and Executive Order
11989 would facilitate the replacement of current
regulations with a system for off-road vehicle use
designation that provides more access, recreational
opportunities, and greater multiple
[[Page 33578]]
use benefits to the public. It would also restore
balanced land management by eliminating ill-defined and
arbitrary environmental and social standards, thereby
ensuring that all public land users will be granted
access on equal terms.
Sec. 2. Rescinding Certain Prior Executive Orders.
Executive Order 11644 and Executive Order 11989 are
hereby rescinded. The Secretary of War, the Secretary
of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the
Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority,
and the head of any other relevant agency shall
initiate rulemakings to rescind or revise the
regulations previously adopted to implement those
Executive Orders.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall
be borne by the Department of the Interior.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 29, 2026.
[FR Doc. 2026-11181
Filed 6-2-26; 11:15 am]
Billing code 4310-10-P