U.S. Department of Agriculture Updates Oil and Gas Regulations in National Forests
Washington, D.C., January 27, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has finalized significant changes to its regulations managing federal oil and gas resources on National Forest System lands. This update aims to modernize and streamline processes for energy development across extensive acres of public land.
Joint Announcement from Key Officials
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum expressed their support for the revised rule today. This update demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to removing outdated regulations and enhancing energy production as outlined in President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Orders on Declaring a National Energy Emergency and Unleashing American Energy.
Comments from the Secretaries
“President Trump has made it clear that unleashing American energy requires a government that operates with the efficiency that matches the speed of the American people,” stated Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This rule equips energy producers with the certainty necessary to expand supply, ultimately making energy more affordable, creating jobs, and ensuring that America maintains its dominance in global energy markets, all while protecting our forests and communities. Energy security is indeed national security. These revisions foster clarity and collaboration among federal agencies, enabling us to act swiftly on leasing and permitting, thus providing American families and businesses with reliable energy.”
Secretary Doug Burgum added, “We are eliminating the bureaucratic delays from the previous administration with American efficiency and innovation. The new rules are designed to provide the certainty essential for boosting production, reducing energy costs, and affirming our global leadership. By streamlining permitting processes and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, we can lower expenses for families, generate job opportunities, and safeguard our nation while being committed to preserving our public lands.”
Overview of the Final Rule
The finalized rule (36 CFR 228 Subpart E), recently published in the Federal Register, revises and simplifies procedures related to federal oil and gas leasing. It allows for improved coordination between the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the permit issuance process. The changes establish a single leasing decision point, effectively minimizing redundant analyses and enhancing response times to industry requests. This approach aims to reduce the existing backlog of applications, expedite lease issuance, and support the timely processing of drilling permits.
Current Landscape of Federal Oil and Gas Leases
As per federal law, the Forest Service oversees the management of the surface estate of National Forest System lands, while the BLM is tasked with managing the subsurface mineral estate. The two agencies collaborate to establish permitting conditions in accordance with their respective authorities.
Currently, there are 5,154 federal oil and gas leases covering approximately 3.8 million acres, which accounts for about 2% of National Forest System lands. Among these, nearly 2,850 leases, spanning 1.8 million acres across 39 national forests and grasslands, contain producing federal oil or gas wells.
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