The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has finalized revisions to its regulations governing federal oil and gas development on National Forest System lands, marking a significant update to rules that oversee energy activity across millions of acres of public land. Officials say the changes are intended to modernize and streamline how energy development is reviewed and managed, while maintaining protections for forests and nearby communities.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the updated rule on Tuesday, underscoring what they described as the Trump Administration’s coordinated effort to remove outdated and burdensome regulatory processes. The move aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Orders on Declaring a National Energy Emergency and Unleashing American Energy, which aim to accelerate domestic energy production and strengthen U.S. energy security.
“President Trump has made it clear that unleashing American energy requires a government that works at the speed of the American people, not one slowed by bureaucratic red tape,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This rule gives energy producers the certainty they need to expand supply to make energy more affordable, create jobs, and ensure America remains the dominant force in global energy markets – all while safeguarding forests and communities. Energy security is national security. These revisions create clarity and alignment across federal agencies, allowing our teams to move swiftly on leasing and permitting so American families and businesses can rely on affordable, dependable energy, while continuing to be good stewards of our public lands.”
Secretary Burgum said the revisions replace what the administration views as unnecessary delays with a more efficient approach to permitting and leasing. “We are replacing the Biden administration’s bureaucratic delays with American innovation and efficiency,” Burgum said. “These new rules provide the certainty needed to boost production, slash energy costs, and guarantee our global leadership. By streamlining permitting and cutting bureaucracy, we are lowering costs for families, creating jobs, and securing our nation all while protecting our public lands.”
The final rule, known as 36 CFR 228 Subpart E, has now been published in the Federal Register. It updates and simplifies federal oil and gas leasing procedures and is designed to improve coordination between the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management when permits are issued. By establishing a single, clearly defined leasing decision point and reducing duplicative environmental and administrative analysis, the rule is expected to improve response times to industry requests, reduce longstanding backlogs, accelerate lease issuance, and support the timely processing of applications for permits to drill.
Under existing federal law, the Forest Service is responsible for managing the surface estate of National Forest System lands, while the Bureau of Land Management oversees the subsurface mineral estate. The two agencies work jointly to establish permitting conditions under their respective authorities, a process that officials say will now be more clearly aligned under the revised rule.
According to USDA data, there are currently 5,154 federal oil and gas leases covering approximately 3.8 million acres, or about 2 percent, of National Forest System lands. Of those leases, roughly 2,850 are producing, spanning about 1.8 million acres across 39 national forests and grasslands that contain active federal oil or gas wells. Administration officials say the updated framework will help ensure these activities are managed more efficiently while balancing energy development with environmental stewardship.
