The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has raised alarm over a new directive from the U.S. Department of the Interior that could significantly weaken protections for wilderness areas across the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management, and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. The order, announced on June 13, 2026, calls for a review of wilderness study areas and lands with wilderness characteristics, potentially affecting tens of millions of acres managed by the NPS—more than any other federal land agency.
According to NPCA President and CEO Tiernan Sittenfeld, the directive threatens to overturn a bipartisan tradition of safeguarding wilderness at the highest level. "Wilderness areas from Crater Lake to Glacier to the Great Smokies offer rare opportunities for solitude and the exceptional backcountry experiences that many of our national parks are prized for," Sittenfeld said.
"This did not happen by accident. Intentional, consistent practices led by experts at the National Park Service have protected these iconic places for future generations."
The NPCA estimates that more than 80% of NPS lands possess wilderness characteristics and would be impacted by the proposed changes to Director's Order 41, which has guided wilderness stewardship for five decades. The Interior Department will open a 60-day public comment period on the proposed changes, allowing stakeholders to weigh in.
Sittenfeld emphasized that the review could "throw out conservation as we know it" by upending established wilderness management practices. The NPCA has pledged to fight the rule at every step, alongside all who care about the future of these special places.
The controversy centers on Tuolumne County, California, where Yosemite National Park's wilderness areas are a key example of the lands at risk. The order's implications extend nationwide, affecting iconic parks such as Crater Lake, Glacier, and Great Smoky Mountains.
Critics argue that weakening wilderness protections could lead to increased development, resource extraction, and diminished recreational opportunities. The NPCA's statement underscores the high stakes for public lands and the communities that depend on them for tourism, recreation, and ecological health.
As the comment period approaches, the debate over the future of America's wilderness is set to intensify.