New York’s U.S. senators are fighting back against an executive order they say could harm the state’s only national forest.
Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are opposing President Trump’s executive order directing the U.S. Forest Service to increase timber production in national forests by 25%.
Schumer says the policy would endanger the Finger Lakes National Forest and threaten New York’s outdoor recreation economy. Gillibrand echoed those concerns, warning it could hurt the local economy and urging the Forest Service to pause plans for commercial logging in the Finger Lakes.
Local conservation groups have also expressed concern over the potential environmental impact.