U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, in collaboration with President Donald J. Trump, has announced significant reforms aimed at modernizing the federal environmental review process. The goal is to prevent regulations from hindering American innovation and expansion.
Secretary Burgum stated, "Our nation’s broken permitting process has been abused for decades to block affordable, reliable energy production, delay critical infrastructure projects, and stunt America’s economy." He emphasized that President Trump is committed to fixing this system by removing unnecessary regulations that have been used by past administrations to impede progress. According to Burgum, these reforms will help position America as a global leader in innovation and development.
The changes pertain to the revised National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures issued by the Department of the Interior. These revisions are in line with President Trump's Unleashing American Energy Executive Order (E.O. 14154) and amendments made under the 2023 "BUILDER Act." The broader aim is to reduce NEPA compliance burdens across federal agencies, thereby facilitating energy and infrastructure development while supporting economic growth.
For further details on this initiative, additional information can be found at the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) section on the U.S. Department of the Interior's website.
