President Donald Trump is moving forward with another sweeping overhaul of federal energy policy, announcing plans to eliminate major environmental restrictions imposed under former President Joe Biden as his administration seeks to expand domestic oil and natural gas production.
The announcement comes as energy costs remain a pressing concern for American households and businesses, with the White House arguing that excessive federal regulations have restricted production, increased operating expenses, and made the United States more vulnerable to disruptions in global energy markets.
The administration has made expanding American energy production a central priority of Trump’s second term, repeatedly targeting regulations that officials contend have placed unnecessary financial burdens on domestic producers.
Speaking at a campaign rally Tuesday in Lubbock, Texas, Trump announced that the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing major revisions to Biden-era methane regulations governing oil and natural gas operations. The administration estimates the changes would save consumers and businesses $45 billion while unlocking approximately 210 million additional barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The proposal targets regulations finalized in 2024 that required energy companies to monitor and limit methane emissions from drilling operations, including existing facilities and smaller wells.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin argued that the previous administration’s approach threatened domestic energy production while imposing significant compliance costs on American businesses.
“President Trump promised to end the war on oil and natural gas, and I vowed to do my part, while protecting our environment,” Zeldin said in an EPA announcement.
“We have listened to Americans’ concerns and are taking our biggest step yet to fix it. When owners and operators can produce, America benefits with lower prices,” he added.
Under the proposed changes, the EPA would establish different regulatory standards for certain categories of wells, providing greater flexibility for smaller producers that officials say have struggled with compliance requirements.
The agency also intends to eliminate its Super Emitter Program, which relied on certified third-party monitoring to identify significant methane releases and initiate investigations.
Additional revisions would loosen certain flaring requirements, modify equipment monitoring standards, and provide operators greater flexibility when addressing emissions-related problems.
Administration officials contend that the changes would particularly benefit marginal wells, which account for roughly four out of every five producing wells nationwide. Many are operated by independent businesses and families rather than major energy corporations.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum praised the proposal, arguing that reducing federal restrictions would strengthen American energy independence while delivering substantial economic benefits.
“Today’s revision rolls back reckless Biden-era red tape to unlock an estimated 210 million barrels of American oil and deliver an estimated $45 billion in taxpayer savings,” Burgum said.
The rollback represents another significant development in Trump’s broader effort to reverse Biden-era environmental policies, following previous actions targeting power plant emissions standards and other federal climate regulations.
The proposed revisions are not yet final. The EPA plans to hold a public hearing and provide at least 45 days for public comment after publication in the Federal Register.
The announcement arrives less than a week before the November 3 midterm elections, placing energy affordability and domestic production squarely within the administration’s closing political message.
