U.S. President Donald Trump reversed the pause on LNG export permitting applications and instructed expedited reviews of related projects as part of a broad energy policy overhaul.
In his ‘Unleashing American Energy’ executive order issued hours after his inauguration, Trump set goals to boost energy production, prioritize domestic resources, and reduce regulatory barriers, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights.
The executive order mandates federal agencies to review and repeal policies restricting oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydropower, biofuels, and critical mineral development.
Agencies were instructed to expedite permitting processes and use emergency powers for essential projects, aligning with Trump’s emphasis on the economic and security benefits of domestic energy resources.
In a separate executive action, Trump declared a national energy emergency, citing high energy prices and insufficient infrastructure as threats to the nation. The White House described energy expansion as a pressing priority tied to national security and economic stability.
The energy policy directives specifically lifted Biden-era climate and environmental considerations from permitting reviews. The Department of Energy was tasked with accelerating LNG project assessments and prioritizing economic and employment benefits while omitting climate impacts from deliberations.
Additionally, Trump’s order revoked the Biden administration rules incorporating environmental justice and the social cost of carbon into agency decisions.
The executive order disbanded the interagency working group on the social cost of greenhouse gases and directed agencies to reassess greenhouse gas endangerment findings. The council on environmental quality was instructed to revise National Environmental Policy Act rules to prioritize project approvals over other objectives.
