Executive Order

Executive Order 14408 - Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands

ActiveExecutive Orders

Published

May 29, 2026

Lineage

—

Ingested

June 29, 2026

Summary

Executive Order 14408, issued by the President, rescinds Executive Orders 11644 and 11989 to remove unnecessary and counterproductive restrictions on off-road vehicle access to federal lands. It directs relevant agencies to initiate rulemakings to revise regulations, replacing vague designation criteria with a framework grounded in existing statutory authorities. This action aims to facilitate greater public access, recreational opportunities, and multiple-use benefits by eliminating arbitrary environmental and social standards.

Key provisions

Executive Order 14408, issued on May 29, 2026, aims to remove what the Administration deems unnecessary and counterproductive restrictions on access to Federal lands, particularly concerning off-road vehicle use.

Purpose

The Executive Order (EO) states its purpose is to eliminate unnecessary regulations to foster national prosperity and reduce regulatory burdens on critical industries, while maintaining sufficient environmental protections. It specifically identifies Executive Order 11644 (February 8, 1972) and Executive Order 11989 (May 24, 1977) as examples of excessive and outdated regulations, issued approximately 50 years ago without the benefit of modern technology.
The President has determined that existing statutory authorities—including the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)—provide an appropriate and comprehensive framework for managing off-road vehicle use on Federal lands.
The EO criticizes the specific designation criteria imposed by EOs 11644 and 11989 as "ill-defined," "vague," and "subjective." These criteria, which are not statutorily required, are difficult for agencies to operationalize and have resulted in barriers to energy and timber production, utility maintenance, permit delays, and de facto bans on some recreational activities, while doing little to benefit the multiple use of Federal lands.
Rescinding these prior EOs is intended to facilitate a new system for off-road vehicle use designation that provides more access, recreational opportunities, and greater multiple-use benefits to the public, restoring balanced land management by eliminating arbitrary environmental and social standards.

Rescinding Certain Prior Executive Orders

Directive: Executive Order 11644 and Executive Order 11989 are hereby rescinded, effective May 29, 2026.
Compliance Requirement: 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 the now-rescinded Executive Orders.

General Provisions

This order clarifies that it does not impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency, or the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget related to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
Implementation of this order must be consistent with applicable law and is subject to the availability of appropriations.
The order is not intended to, and does not, create any new right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States or its entities.
The Department of the Interior is designated to bear the costs for the publication of this order.

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Purpose

The Executive Order (EO) states its purpose is to eliminate unnecessary regulations to foster national prosperity and reduce regulatory burdens on critical industries, while maintaining sufficient environmental protections. It specifically identifies Executive Order 11644 (February 8, 1972) and Executive Order 11989 (May 24, 1977) as examples of excessive and outdated regulations, issued approximately 50 years ago without the benefit of modern technology.

The President has determined that existing statutory authorities—including the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)—provide an appropriate and comprehensive framework for managing off-road vehicle use on Federal lands.

The EO criticizes the specific designation criteria imposed by EOs 11644 and 11989 as "ill-defined," "vague," and "subjective." These criteria, which are not statutorily required, are difficult for agencies to operationalize and have resulted in barriers to energy and timber production, utility maintenance, permit delays, and de facto bans on some recreational activities, while doing little to benefit the multiple use of Federal lands.

Rescinding these prior EOs is intended to facilitate a new system for off-road vehicle use designation that provides more access, recreational opportunities, and greater multiple-use benefits to the public, restoring balanced land management by eliminating arbitrary environmental and social standards.

Rescinding Certain Prior Executive Orders

Directive: Executive Order 11644 and Executive Order 11989 are hereby rescinded, effective May 29, 2026.

Compliance Requirement: 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 the now-rescinded Executive Orders.

General Provisions

This order clarifies that it does not impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency, or the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget related to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

Implementation of this order must be consistent with applicable law and is subject to the availability of appropriations.

The order is not intended to, and does not, create any new right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States or its entities.

The Department of the Interior is designated to bear the costs for the publication of this order.