Friday, May 30, 2025
U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a $200 million investment to implement the Forest Service’s National Active Forest Management Strategy. According to Rollins, the project would increase timber harvests, boost forest health and productivity, lower the risk of wildfires, and foster rural prosperity in forest communities.
The USDA claims that by reducing onerous rules, utilizing emergency powers, and accelerating project approvals, the approach supports President Trump’s Executive Order: Immediate Expansion of wood Production and guarantees quicker access to vital wood supplies. The policy promises a more stable supply of wood products, healthier forests, and improved rural economies by increasing the use of long-term contracts to implement these projects.
“President Trump is committed to cutting red tape, rolling back burdensome regulations, and unleashing the potential of America’s abundant natural resources. We are doing just that at the USDA with this announcement to invest in timber production. This is a win for consumers who will see better prices with American-grown products, and a win for forest management, which will help keep our forests safer and reduce wildfire risk,” commented Secretary Rollins. “Not only will this help our staff on the ground better carry out the mission of protecting lives, livelihoods, and resources, it will support jobs in rural America and reduce our reliance on foreign lumber imports.”
This effort to boost domestic timber harvests carries out Secretary Rollins’ directive to the Forest Service to act promptly in support of it. The Forest Service has responded by pledging to increase the amount of timber taken on national forests by 25%, with the ultimate objective of harvesting 4 billion board feet per year by fiscal year 2028. Although not many details were made public, Rollins stated that the agency will promote initiatives to collaborate across property lines and jurisdictions to enhance forest health and boost local economies around the country by utilizing resources such as the Good Neighbor Authority.
Innovative wood products like CLT (cross-laminated timber), which is employed in the construction of commercial buildings because it is stronger than steel, are another area of concentration for this investment. In a similar vein, active management frequently produces byproducts that have a low market value for conventional wood but are nonetheless valuable for biomass applications such as pellets and wood energy.
Communities and companies in the wood products industry are directly impacted by these investments, which sustain jobs in the energy and innovative wood products sectors as well as in lumber mills and forest harvesting. By securing a robust domestic timber supply, these historic investments support rural industry, stabilize markets, and promote long-term economic growth.
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