Overview

• The new permitting process reduces environmental review timelines from years to a maximum of 28 days for projects involving oil, gas, coal, uranium, and critical minerals.
• Wind and solar energy projects are excluded from the expedited procedures, reinforcing the administration's focus on fossil fuels and select other energy sources.
• The Department of the Interior is invoking emergency authorities under NEPA, ESA, and NHPA to implement these changes, citing a national energy emergency declared by President Trump in January 2025.
• Industry groups praise the move as a necessary step to enhance U.S. energy security and competitiveness, while environmental organizations prepare legal challenges, calling the emergency declaration a pretext.
• It remains uncertain whether the streamlined process will significantly increase production, as U.S. oil output is already near record levels.