Payam Javan: The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on April 23, 2025, that it will implement emergency permitting procedures to drastically reduce approval times for energy and critical mineral projects to just 28 days, down from months or years. This move, responding to President Trump’s January 20 executive order declaring a national energy emergency, aims to expedite projects involving fossil fuels, uranium, geothermal, critical minerals, biofuels, and kinetic hydropower on federal lands to bolster economic stability, national security, and energy independence.
The initiative leverages emergency authorities under existing environmental and preservation laws to streamline reviews, prioritizing rapid development of domestic energy resources. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized the urgency of enhancing energy security, while critics, like the Center for Biological Diversity, argue it prioritizes corporate interests over public health and environmental concerns. The policy excludes solar and wind energy, focusing instead on traditional and strategic energy sources amid record U.S. oil production and slowing crude oil export growth in 2024.