★ Government Action
Trump order scraps the rules behind federal environmental reviews
Filed January 2025
★ The Brief
What happened
The same January 20, 2025 order directed the White House environmental council to repeal the regulations that carry out the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, which requires environmental review of major federal actions; the council finalized that repeal in January 2026.
Who enabled it
Deal or steal?
Stripping the environmental-review rulebook clears the slowest step in federal permitting for the projects the administration is fast-tracking, from expedited AI data centers to Alaska oil and mining roads; developers who funded the inauguration, including Hillwood's $1M, build in the cleared lane.
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14154, titled 'Unleashing American Energy,' which directed the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to propose rescinding its longstanding NEPA implementing regulations and to provide new guidance on NEPA implementation. In response to this direction, CEQ published an Interim Final Rule on February 25, 2025, and a Final Rule in January 2026, formally removing the prior regulatory framework. Prior rulemakings, including Biden-era Phase 1 (April 2022) and Phase 2 (May 2024) final rules, were rescinded and are no longer in effect.
Actors
Who pushed it · 2Who initiated, paid, or pushed the action.
Donald TrumpSigned and issued Executive Order 14154 directing CEQ to rescind its NEPA regulations.
- Council on Environmental Quality
Acting under the direction of EO 14154, published an Interim Final Rule (February 2025) and a Final Rule (January 2026) rescinding its NEPA implementing regulations.
Sector-wide beneficiaries
- Energy & Environment
Rescinding NEPA implementing regulations shortens environmental review timelines for drilling, pipelines, LNG terminals, and other energy infrastructure, accelerating permitting across the sector.
Sector-aligned organizations that have paid into Trump’s orbit:
- Real Estate & Property Development
Repeals the environmental-review rules that gate federal permitting, speeding project approvals for real-estate and infrastructure developers.
Sector-aligned organizations that have paid into Trump’s orbit:
- Transportation & Infrastructure
Shorter NEPA review cycles also benefit highway, transit, port, and bridge projects across the transportation and infrastructure sector by reducing the federal review burden on major capital projects.
Sector-aligned organizations that have paid into Trump’s orbit:
Further reading
- ★ Government ActionFebruary 2026Trump's EPA eliminates climate endangerment finding and emission rules
- ★ Government ActionJuly 2025Trump order expedites federal permits for AI data centers
- ★ Government ActionFebruary 2025Trump creates National Energy Dominance Council chaired by Burgum
- ★ Government ActionAugust 2025Trump orders Labor Department to allow alternative assets in 401(k)s
- ★ Government ActionMay 2025Treasury launches fast-track CFIUS review UAE lobbied for
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Trump restarts stalled natural gas export approvals paused by Biden