Trump Reverses Biden Energy Policies, Greenlights LNG Exports \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the National Energy Dominance Council, directing it to accelerate domestic oil and gas production. His administration also approved a major LNG export project in Louisiana, reversing Biden’s pause on new LNG export approvals. Trump further pledged to overturn Biden’s offshore drilling ban and revive a canceled natural gas pipeline, reinforcing his commitment to fossil fuel expansion and deregulation.
Trump Pushes Energy Expansion: Quick Looks
- National Energy Dominance Council Created – The new council aims to increase U.S. energy production and streamline permitting.
- LNG Export Ban Reversed – Trump approved a Louisiana LNG project, the first since Biden’s 2024 pause.
- Offshore Drilling Ban in Question – Trump seeks to overturn Biden’s 625-million-acre offshore ban.
- Pipeline Revival – Trump vowed to restart a canceled natural gas pipeline to lower Northeast energy costs.
- Regulatory Rollbacks – The administration plans to cut appliance efficiency rules and air pollution waivers.
- Energy Security Focus – Trump wants to boost fossil fuel exports to strengthen U.S. global influence.
Deep Look
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday launching the National Energy Dominance Council, a powerful new body tasked with expanding domestic fossil fuel production and eliminating regulatory hurdles. The move comes alongside a series of major energy policy shifts, including the approval of a long-delayed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project, a pledge to reverse Biden’s offshore drilling ban, and efforts to revive a canceled pipeline project.
National Energy Dominance Council: Trump’s Energy Agenda in Action
The newly established National Energy Dominance Council will oversee federal energy permitting, production, and distribution. Trump appointed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to lead the council, giving it broad authority to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and drive private sector energy investments.
“We’re going to make more money than anybody’s ever made with energy,” Trump said during the signing event at the White House Oval Office.
He emphasized the economic and strategic value of U.S. oil and gas reserves, calling them “liquid gold under our feet” that should be fully utilized.
Reversing Biden’s LNG Export Pause
Trump’s administration announced the first approval of new LNG exports since President Joe Biden paused approvals in early 2024.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright granted conditional export authorization for Commonwealth LNG, a massive 9.5-million-ton-per-year facility planned for Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
“Exporting American LNG strengthens the U.S. economy, supports jobs, and bolsters energy security worldwide,” Wright said.
This move effectively undoes Biden’s LNG export moratorium, which was implemented amid concerns over climate change and global emissions. Trump, however, sees energy exports as a tool of economic and geopolitical strength, urging American companies to ramp up fossil fuel sales to allies in Europe and beyond.
Pipeline Revival: Cutting Energy Costs in the Northeast
Trump also vowed to revive a canceled pipeline project aimed at transporting natural gas from Pennsylvania to New York.
He claimed that reinstating the pipeline could slash energy prices in the Northeast by up to 70%, blaming high energy costs on state-level opposition and federal regulatory hurdles.
Trump Targets Biden’s Offshore Drilling Ban
In one of his most aggressive energy moves, Trump directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to undo Biden’s ban on future offshore oil drilling in key coastal regions.
Biden’s executive order, signed just weeks before leaving office, protected 625 million acres of federal waters from future oil and gas drilling under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The restrictions targeted the East and West Coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea, while leaving the central and western Gulf of Mexico open for drilling.
Trump denounced the move as a reckless act that removed billions in potential revenue from U.S. energy reserves.
“The amount of money that (Biden) took off our balance sheet was incalculable. He just wiped it out,” Trump said.
However, undoing Biden’s ban may prove legally difficult. The 1972 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act gives the president authority to withdraw offshore areas from leasing, but reversing such a decision may require congressional action.
Despite this, Trump remained confident, stating:
“Now it’s back in our balance sheet.”
Deregulation: Rolling Back Efficiency Standards & Environmental Rules
In addition to expanding fossil fuel production, Trump pledged to roll back efficiency standards for household appliances, including dishwashers and other devices.
“We’re going to get rid of totally unnecessary regulations,” Trump declared.
His administration is also moving to block California from enforcing strict air pollution standards for cars and trucks.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced he would work with Congress to repeal Biden’s waiver that allowed California to set tougher emissions standards than federal guidelines.
Biden’s Energy Policies and Environmental Concerns
Biden’s 2024 pause on LNG export approvals was a key election-year decision, aligning him with climate activists concerned that large-scale LNG exports would increase global emissions.
- Biden argued that expanding LNG exports could undermine U.S. climate goals, which aim to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.
- Environmentalists fear long-term LNG commitments will lock in fossil fuel dependence, despite a global push for renewable energy alternatives.
- However, the oil and gas industry and Republican lawmakers viewed Biden’s move as a betrayal of U.S. allies dependent on American LNG.
With Trump’s reversal, energy industry leaders welcomed the shift, viewing it as a major win for fossil fuel production.
Industry Response & Future Outlook
Commonwealth LNG CEO Farhad Ahrabi hailed the Trump administration’s LNG approval, saying it demonstrated a clear commitment to boosting U.S. energy exports.
The company expects to:
- Secure final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by summer 2025.
- Reach a final investment decision in September 2025.
- Begin LNG production by early 2029.
What’s Next?
Trump’s energy-focused policies signal a major shift toward increased fossil fuel production and deregulation. Key developments to watch include:
- Legal Challenges – Efforts to overturn Biden’s offshore drilling ban could face court and congressional battles.
- Pipeline Expansion – Trump’s push for new energy infrastructure will face state and environmental opposition.
- Climate Policy Clashes – The U.S. role in global energy markets could intensify debates over climate action vs. fossil fuel expansion.
With energy policy now at the forefront of Trump’s administration, the battle between environmental regulations and fossil fuel development is set to escalate.
Trump Reverses Biden
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