The administration moved quickly to restructure the permitting process for extraction operations. Through executive orders issued within the first 24 hours of taking office, the Interior Department established a 28-day target for processing drilling permits, significantly reducing previous approval timelines.
Federal lands previously restricted from development became available for leasing. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain opened to oil and gas operations, alongside more than 13 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Early lease auctions drew limited participation from major operators.
The offshore extraction sector saw dramatic policy shifts in November 2025, when the administration proposed an expansive drilling programme covering approximately 1.27 billion acres. The plan includes six lease sales off California’s coast and drilling opportunities in the eastern Gulf of Mexico near Florida.
Environmental review processes were also streamlined during this period. The administration revised National Environmental Policy Act guidelines, reducing the scope of environmental assessments required for drilling permits. This regulatory adjustment aimed to accelerate project approvals whilst maintaining baseline environmental protections, though environmental groups raised concerns about the reduced oversight mechanisms.