"The U.S. Forest Service announced revisions to its oil and gas leasing rules today that the agency promises “modernizes and streamlines” the permitting process to drill for fossil fuels in the nation’s forests and grasslands. The changes prompted the ire of environmental groups who say it is the latest in a year’s worth of attacks on public lands protections by President Trump’s administration.
The regulations being updated govern how the Forest Service reviews lands it manages that could be included in an oil and gas leasing auction conducted by the Bureau of Land Management, the agency usually responsible for managing minerals on federal lands. Some of the changes mean the Forest Service will no longer analyze areas for lease on a parcel-by-parcel basis. Instead, the agency will defer to a broader, NEPA-compliant environmental review, which can sometimes cover millions of acres, to determine whether to allow drilling.
“These new rules provide the certainty needed to boost production, slash energy costs, and guarantee our global leadership,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “By streamlining permitting and cutting bureaucracy, we are lowering costs for families, creating jobs, and securing our nation all while protecting our public lands.”"
Jake Bolster reports for Inside Climate News January 27, 2026.
SEE ALSO:
"Opinion: Trump’s ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Is Falling On Deaf Ears" (Washington Post)
"In Iowa, Trump Backs Year-Round Sales Of High-Ethanol Gas Amid GOP Divisions" (The Hill)
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