WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it will implement a new emergency permitting process for energy and mining projects on federal lands, cutting approval times from months or even years to a maximum of 28 days.
The move by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) follows President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency on his first day in office.
The declaration was intended to speed up permitting processes to boost domestic energy production, reduce fuel prices, and strengthen national security.
According to the DOI, the emergency procedures will apply to a range of projects including oil, gas, coal, uranium, geothermal energy, critical minerals, biofuels, and kinetic hydropower.
However, the announcement did not include solar or wind energy.
“The United States cannot afford to wait,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.
“By reducing a multi-year permitting process down to just 28 days, the department will lead with urgency, resolve, and a clear focus on strengthening the nation’s energy independence,” said Burgum.
Industry groups have long expressed frustration over what they describe as a slow and expensive permitting process for projects on federal lands and waters.
It is unclear whether the new measures will significantly affect U.S. oil production, which is already near record levels as companies respond to high market prices driven by global instability and sanctions on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The DOI also stated it will rely on alternative methods to comply with longstanding environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act.
