USDA issues directive to restore grazing on national forest lands
Jun 17, 2026
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has announced the distribution of a comprehensive directive to all U.S. Forest Service employees from the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). These actions advance implementation of the Advancing Grazing on Forest Service and B
ureau of Land Management (BLM) Lands Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the USDA–Department of the Interior Grazing Action Plan, delivering on the Trump Administration’s commitment to strengthen American ranching, restore multiple-use management on federal lands, and combat regulatory lawfare against producers.
The letter to Forest Service employees, addressed from Secretary Rollins and referencing the detailed implementation directives from Under Secretary Michael Boren, emphasizes the historic role of grazing on National Forest System lands. These actions build directly on the October 2025 USDA Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry and the March 31, 2026, MOU signed with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
Key Elements of the Directives:
Expanding access to prioritize permitting vacant and closed allotments
Maximizing grazing flexibilities to keep working lands working
Eliminating delays by streamlining permitting and allotment authorizations
Elevating rural Americans by giving ranchers a better voice
Improving service by setting expectations for positive engagement with ranchers.
By elevating grazing as an Administration priority, USDA is protecting the roughly 23,000 permittees and lessees who rely on public rangelands while delivering more affordable, American-raised protein to consumers.
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