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On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order (E.O.) 14154, "Unleashing American Energy."  Section 5(b) of E.O. 14154 directs CEQ to provide guidance on implementing the National Environmental policy Act (NEPA) to expedite and simplify the permitting process.   Pursuant to section 5(c) of the E.O., the guidance and any resulting agency NEPA implementing regulations must "expedite permitting approvals and meet deadlines established in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023 (Public Law 118-5)."  Agencies must prioritize efficiency and certainty over any other policy objectives that could add delays and ambiguity to the permitting process, as consistent with applicable law.

In accordance with E.O. 14154, the Department is issuing an interim final rule to revise its implementing NEPA procedures to expedite permitting approvals and conform with NEPA as amended by the FRA, including the deadlines established in NEPA.