The Interior Department moved lickety-split on multiple policy fronts as the Trump administration returned to office last year, while setting the stage for an even more consequential year in 2026.
Oil-and-gas and mining permitting got easier. Wind and solar energy projects were hamstrung, with the Trump administration making its most aggressive push against offshore wind in late December.
American history lessons came under scrutiny at national parks. The groundwork was laid for an aggressive rewrite of Endangered Species Act regulations, while the administration eyed a restructuring of how the federal government fights wildfires.
In part through President Donald Trump’s use of aggressive executive orders and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s own orders, Interior has sought to speed through the notoriously slow regulatory or legislative processes, with conservation advocates decrying both the pace and direction. At the same time, many of the administration’s signature initiatives are still in the pipeline, with more action needed this year.
