Letter from Anneka Williams, Policy Director, 9/16/25

Here in Utah the leaves are turning and temperatures are starting to drop. The past month has been a whirlwind as I continue to settle into my new role as Policy Director. I was fortunate enough to meet many people in the Winter Wildlands Alliance at our 11th Biennial Grassroots Advocacy Conference. Recreation and conservation stakeholders, athletes, storytellers, policymakers, scientists, mountain guides, and others converged in Washington’s Pack Forest near Mount Rainier. Connection across this community felt more important than ever this year given the ongoing work to protect our public lands from an onslaught of threats.  

The work is far from over and I appreciate all of the engagement from across our community. Thanks to those who have used our comment forms to share your voice and opinion with lawmakers. I am excited to continue supporting this community and the Winter Wildlands Alliance mission. If you have ideas, feedback, or stories to share, you can always reach me at awilliams@winterwildlands.org.

Now for some policy updates.

Pushing Back Against Proposed Forest Service Reorganization

As many of you know, earlier this summer the Forest Service quietly unveiled a sweeping plan to consolidate their offices and move decision-making far from the mountains we love and into distant hub cities. Winter Wildlands Alliance submitted a technical public comment letter opposing the plan and making it clear that our backcountry ski zones deserve leaders and scientists who know the terrain, understand local needs, and protect the snow we cherish. We also sent in comments on behalf of 637 members. 

Defending the Roadless Rule

Comments on the proposed Roadless Rule rescission were also due earlier this month. Rescinding the roadless rule is fiscally irresponsible, unnecessary to meet agency goals, harmful to ecosystem health, and consequential for backcountry recreation. Winter Wildlands Alliance submitted a technical comment letter opposing rescission and submitted comments on behalf of 1,181 members. Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment and for all of the work that you and your organizations took on to mobilize folks on this issue. More than 625,000 comments were submitted on this issue, with the majority of comments opposing the Trump administration’s plans to rescind the Roadless Rule. 

Protecting the Travel Management Rule

Looking forward, Winter Wildlands Alliance is anticipating a proposed repeal of the Travel Management Rule in the coming months. Travel Management is the process by which the Forest Service designates specific trails and areas for motorized use. It can be thought of as a type of comprehensive “zoning” where some areas are designated for motorized use, and other trails and areas are set aside for human-powered recreation, or to protect wildlife and their habitat. The Travel Management Rule is an important framework for creating a sustainable transportation system, supporting different users in enjoying public lands, and protecting wildlife and natural resources. Stay tuned for more information and resources from us on the Travel Management Rule. 

What does a government shutdown mean for outdoor recreation?

The federal government shut down at midnight on September 30th after Congress failed to reach a deal on funding the government for the next fiscal year. The duration of the shutdown is not known. During the shutdown, many agencies and programs we rely on will be forced to stop operations until a budget agreement is reached. 

Currently, Congress is negotiating a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government for a temporary period while also working to pass 12 appropriations bills that fund federal agencies, programs, and services. The impacts of a government shutdown will be felt across the country. Many government employees will be furloughed and others will continue working without an immediate paycheck. The shutdown will have an impact across all sectors, including land management agencies and public lands. Some of the ways that outdoor recreation may be impacted by this shutdown are highlighted below. 

• Reduced Management: Many of the people who care for our public lands will be furloughed during a shutdown. While National Parks and other public lands may remain open, services such as bathroom cleaning, trash collection, and trail and road maintenance may be paused. Access without management can lead to big issues for the landscapes we all love. 
• Reduced Support: While many trails and areas may remain physically open, lack of agency staff in these places means there are not people to help provide directions, give safety updates, or support users in enjoying public lands responsibly. If you are recreating on public lands during this time, make sure you are prepared to be fully self-sufficient. 
• Closed Areas: Depending on the area, campsites, visitor centers, and public restrooms may be closed for the duration of a government shutdown. 
• Halted Planning Processes: In addition to managing day-to-day operations on public lands, agencies like the U.S. Forest Service also engage in longer term planning processes like forest plans and timber sales. During a government shutdown, these already lengthy processes are paused. 

This is an evolving situation. This information reflects the most up-to-date information at the time of this update.