Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman are releasing a bill Thursday that aims to prevent presidential administrations from blocking liquefied natural gas project approvals.
The “LNG Export Security Act,” obtained by POLITICO, functions as a bipartisan rebuke of former President Joe Biden’s move in 2024 to freeze new export permits for natural gas while it studied their economic and climate implications. A federal judge later blocked the pause.
Still, the move angered Republicans and President Donald Trump, who quickly moved to retaliate by stifling solar and wind projects favored by Democrats when he returned to office.
The issue of executive branch meddling into permitting decisions has become a key sticking point in permitting reform negotiations, as both parties look to limit presidents from politically-motivated attacks on disfavored energy sources.
