- President Trump’s Cabinet nominees, the Interior Department, the Energy Department, and the EPA, are allies of the oil and gas industry.
- They plan to expand drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and on federal lands and roll back climate regulations.
- Scientists warn that further burning of fossil fuels will worsen the climate crisis.
President-elect Donald Trump wants to fill his Cabinet with oil and gas advocates who plan to make it easier to drill on federal lands and waters and remove climate change regulations for the industry.
If approved by the Senate, the three leading nominees would have primary responsibility for implementing President Trump’s “Train, Baby, Train” plan across the federal government.
President Trump nominated North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican with ties to fossil fuel executives, to be Secretary of the Interior. The Interior Department leases millions of acres of public land and water for oil and gas drilling.
Chris Wright, CEO of hydraulic fracturing company Liberty Energy, has been named Secretary of Energy. The Department of Energy’s suspension of approvals for new export terminals to transport U.S. gas overseas comes as a result of billions of dollars worth of loans and grants to accelerate America’s transition to renewable energy. This has become a top priority for the Trump administration.
And Lee Zeldin, a former congressman from New York who often voted against climate legislation, was chosen to head the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates pollution from cars, trucks, power plants, and oil and gas infrastructure. .
Burgum will coordinate the effort as chair of the National Energy Council, which Trump said in a statement to Truth Social will be concerned with “the permitting, regulation, production, generation, distribution, and transportation of energy.” He said it will be made up of all ministries and agencies. Their mission is to eliminate bureaucracy and regulation, Trump said.
Scientists say the United States and other major economies need to reduce fossil fuel burning to slow the climate crisis, which has already caused hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves and droughts around the world. has become even more destructive. President Trump and allies in the oil and gas industry say the U.S. should expand production to keep prices down and inflation down, with the issue among voters’ main concerns in this year’s election. listed. Energy analysts say gas prices are determined primarily by global supply and demand, not by the actions of any particular president.
Here are three actions Trump’s Cabinet plans to take, based on interviews with several groups that help shape his policies. When asked about these priorities, Trump Vance campaign spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said, “The American people re-elected President Trump by a wide margin, and President Trump is committed to fulfilling the promises he made during his campaign.” I’m sure he will.” deliver.
Resuming approvals for new gas export facilities
If Wright is confirmed, the Energy Department plans to begin approving permits for new gas export terminals, which have been largely suspended by the Biden administration in 2024.
In January, Biden suspended approvals of new devices until the department could analyze their impact on greenhouse gas emissions and consumer energy costs. A federal judge blocked that moratorium this summer, and the department has since greenlit one permit. Republicans and the oil and gas industry accused the Biden administration of intentionally slowing the process. They argue that the delay will undermine U.S. influence with competitors such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Russia and cost jobs at home.
The suspension does not affect the terminal already under construction, which is now on track to double U.S. gas exports by the end of the decade, according to federal data. Some energy analysts and consumer advocates say the United States’ dominance in global markets could expose customers to more volatile prices. Cold waves in Europe and instability in the Middle East could cause gas demand, and therefore prices, to soar, and the climate crisis is increasing the risk of extreme weather shocks.
“We need the next administration to support U.S. geostrategy by lifting the Department of Energy’s suspension of LNG permits, expediting all pending export applications, and ensuring open access for American energy to global markets.” We have an opportunity to strengthen our academic strength,” said Amanda Ebersole, Chief Advocacy Officer. The American Petroleum Institute told reporters on a conference call last week.
Allowing more oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico
The Interior Department plans to sell three oil and gas drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico from 2024 to 2029, the lowest number since the program began decades ago. The sale was mandated by the Inflation Control Act, which directed the department to provide a minimum amount of oil and gas leases before launching an auction for offshore wind developers.
The oil and gas industry is calling on the Trump administration to issue a new five-year offshore leasing program.
Kenny Stein, vice president of policy at the American Energy Alliance, a conservative group that advises President Trump on energy policy, said: “If an auction were held, companies would be willing to pay their western Gulf leases now.” I guess so.” “They already have the platform and equipment in place and will be able to start drilling right away.”
ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods similarly told CNBC earlier this month that there are areas in the Gulf of Mexico where the company could expand oil production over the long term. But he said he doesn’t expect a major oil boom in the U.S. because there is already enough supply in the market.
The incoming Trump administration is also expected to shrink national monuments in Western countries and open more public lands to drilling and mining, although these moves could be challenged in court by environmental groups. Stein said.
Roll back climate change rules
President Trump has promised to “repeal” EPA regulations that limit emissions from cars, trucks, power plants, oil and gas wells, pumps and storage tanks. He also called the Inflation Control Act a “green new scam” and promised to restore subsidies for renewable energy under the law.
This is a repeat of President Trump’s first term, when the EPA repealed nearly 100 environmental regulations. This time, some climate change rules have support from automakers and major oil and gas companies. ExxonMobil’s Woods told Semaphore last week that the Trump administration should maintain regulations to curb methane emissions from oil and gas infrastructure. The nation’s largest automaker group said the future is electric and companies are investing billions of dollars in the transition. But Trump adopted the oil and gas lobby’s message and attacked electric cars on the campaign trail.
A complete repeal of the anti-inflation law is unlikely, in part because most of the $220 billion in investment to make EVs, batteries, solar panels and other renewable technologies is going to Republican congressional districts, says Energy. Director David Brown said. Wood Mackenzie Migration Services said in a statement.