President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on September 17, 2026, aimed at expanding hunting and fishing access on federal lands and waters while rolling back certain restrictions on ammunition, fishing and boating. He also said a new version of the Great American Outdoors Act could be coming soon.
According to a report by The Hill, Trump announced the orders during a Rose Garden dinner attended by more than 100 hunters, anglers and outdoor industry officials.
What Happened
Trump hosted the outdoor industry gathering at the White House on Thursday, where he presented the executive orders as steps to expand access to public lands and waters.
“We believe that public lands belong to the American people and to the public, and hunters, fishers, and outdoorsmen should be able to access them,” Trump said.
The first order directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to expand the amount of federal land available for hunting and fishing.
The action builds on an August administration initiative that opened more than 92 million acres of federal land across 32 states to additional hunting and fishing opportunities. The Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service previously announced plans involving more than 1,450 opportunities across 111 federal sites.
Key Details of the Hunting Orders
More Federal Land for Hunters and Anglers
The first executive order calls for federal agencies to identify additional opportunities for hunting and fishing on public lands.
The administration has framed the policy around expanding recreational access while reducing what it describes as unnecessary regulatory barriers.
The August expansion covered more than 92 million acres, representing more than 95 percent of National Wildlife Refuge System lands, according to the Department of the Interior.
The September action builds on that earlier expansion rather than representing a standalone change in federal land policy.
Lead Ammunition and Fishing Tackle
Trump also announced that his administration was reversing Biden-era restrictions involving traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle.
The issue has been part of a broader debate over hunting access, wildlife management and environmental protections.
Trump questioned the rationale for restrictions on lead ammunition during his remarks, telling the audience that he was responding to what hunters and anglers had requested.
The change is significant because federal wildlife refuges have historically been managed with conservation requirements alongside recreational access. Environmental groups have previously raised concerns about the effects of lead ammunition and tackle on wildlife.
Fishing and Boating Rules Also Targeted
The second executive order focuses on federal fishery management and recreational fishing.
Trump said the order would modernize federal fisheries management and loosen restrictions affecting American boaters and anglers.
The measures include changes intended to expand fishing seasons and quotas.
The administration has described the broader policy as an effort to make federal recreational opportunities more accessible to hunters, anglers and other outdoor users.
The White House event also placed the orders within Trump’s broader effort to reduce federal restrictions affecting outdoor recreation.
Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act 2.0 Plans
Trump also used the Rose Garden event to revisit one of the major conservation and public-lands measures from his first presidency.
The Great American Outdoors Act, signed in 2020, provided billions of dollars to address maintenance backlogs at national parks and other federal lands. It also provided funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
During Thursday’s dinner, Trump said a new version, which he referred to as the Great American Outdoors Act “2.0,” would be coming in the “very near future.”
He did not provide details about the proposed legislation, including its funding level, congressional strategy or specific provisions.
Public Lands and Federal Policy
The new hunting orders continue a broader policy shift toward increasing recreational access to federal lands.
The Interior Department’s earlier 2026 expansion created 1,488 new hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 32 states, according to the agency. The initiative covered 107 national wildlife refuges and four national fish hatcheries.
Supporters of expanded access have emphasized public recreation and the role of hunting and fishing in rural economies. Conservation advocates, meanwhile, have raised questions about how expanded recreational use could affect wildlife management and habitat protections.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus will be on how federal agencies implement the new executive orders and which additional lands and waters become available to hunters and anglers.
Attention will also turn to Trump’s proposed Outdoors Act 2.0. Because the president has not yet released detailed legislation, its potential scope and congressional prospects remain unclear.
For now, the orders mark another step in the administration’s approach to federal land management, combining expanded recreational access with the rollback of selected environmental and boating restrictions.
Trump’s latest hunting restrictions changes could affect millions of acres of federal land and shape the administration’s broader approach to public-land access, wildlife management and outdoor recreation.
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FAQs
Trump signed orders expanding access to federal land for hunting and fishing and rolling back certain restrictions involving lead ammunition and fishing tackle.
Trump said a new version of the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act is coming soon, but he has not yet provided details about its proposed funding or provisions.