White House Orders National Environmental Policy Act Changes
Date Posted: January 28, 2025
Posted In: News,
From Construction Dive: President Donald Trump took steps Monday to cut back the White House’s National Environmental Policy Act rulemaking powers and to speed up permits for energy infrastructure projects powered by oil, gas, nuclear, coal, hydropower and biofuel, as well as efforts to mine critical minerals.
Trump also directed his administration to prepare recommendations for Congress on how to reform the federal construction permitting process.
Following an energy-focused inaugural address in which he declared “We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump signed an executive order declaring a national energy emergency. The directive calls for the use of emergency regulations, including under the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, to expedite energy infrastructure projects.
In Section 5 of a Monday directive titled Unleashing American Energy, the president revoked a longstanding executive order that gives the White House Council on Environmental Quality the power to craft rules for how agencies comply with NEPA.
NEPA, other permit changes
The president’s Unleashing American Energy order directs the chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, currently Brenda Mallory, to provide guidance on implementing NEPA and to propose rescinding CEQ’s NEPA regulations within 30 days.