WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday aimed at reviving the U.S. timber industry by slashing regulations and speeding up logging permits on federal lands, a move he touted as a way to reduce reliance on foreign imports and prevent wildfires.
The order, signed March 1, 2025, directs federal agencies to streamline logging processes, setting ambitious four-year production targets and mandating faster permit approvals. It also calls for Endangered Species Act reviews to be completed within 120 days, a significant reduction from current timelines, and initiates a national security investigation into imported wood products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The Pentagon has signaled support for the probe, citing military reliance on domestic lumber.
Trump framed the policy as an economic and environmental win during remarks at the White House. “We’re unleashing American logging to meet 95% of our demand, cut costs for families, and stop these devastating fires,” he said. “No more dependence on Canada’s subsidized wood or China’s cheap cabinets.”
