Barrasso Introduces Permitting Reform Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to reform our nation's broken permitting process and unleash American energy production.

The Let America Build Act of 2026 proposes a slate of reforms based on Barrasso's 2023 Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources (SPUR) Act. It specifically reforms National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) judicial reviews for coal, oil, and gas projects; reduces federal regulations on oil, gas, and coal permitting; provides deference to state oversight; and streamlines federal reviews.

"Now is the time to unleash America's energy potential and Wyoming is ready and eager to expand energy production. To do this, we desperately need permitting reform," said Barrasso. "Our federal permitting process is fundamentally broken. It is burdened by bureaucracy and weaponized by endless litigation. American energy can no longer be held hostage. Every permitting delay costs our communities and our families. We need to produce more energy in order to lower prices. The Let America Build Act is a great place to start."

Barrasso's Let America Build Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

The Let America Build Act is supported by the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, the Wyoming Mining Association, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the National Mining Association, the American Exploration and Production Council, and the Western Energy Alliance.

"Senator Barrasso continues to lead in the U.S. Senate to put Wyoming on a path to doing big projects with big benefits for America," Pete Obermueller, President of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said. "Senator Barrasso's legislation would open new doors to oil and natural gas production in Wyoming. It would limit the federal government's white-knuckled grip on control of Wyoming's surface lands that are not even owned by the federal government. Anti-oil and gas groups who like to block energy projects by filing lawsuit after lawsuit will be required to file them in a reasonable amount of time, and in a judicial jurisdiction that makes some sense. Most exciting for Wyoming, the bill allows for our state professionals to take primacy over the issuance of federal permits to drill. Wyoming already has that authority in other areas, and we already have the expertise to do it well. We look forward to Senator Barrasso's continued work to get permitting reform across the finish line."

"As demand for energy and mineral resources continues to grow, it will take thoughtful policy reforms to lift the self-imposed barriers our nation has put in place to ensure we can meet current and future challenges," Rich Nolan, National Mining Association President and CEO said. "The strong provisions found in Senator John Barrasso's (R-Wyo.) Let America Build Act provide a path forward to helping us meet the economic, energy and national security priorities we hold dear. We thank Senator Barrasso for introducing the bill and urge its immediate consideration in the Senate."

Background:

The Let America Build Act of 2026 will:

• Make NEPA Judicial Reforms for oil and gas leasing, including: (1) deadlines for filing lawsuits challenging leases; (2) providing for the remand of court-denied leases to the agency instead of vacatur; and (3) deadlines for agency action, among other reforms.
• Allow state regulatory primacy over drilling permits on federal land.
• Ease split estate permitting (Fee-Fee-Fed) compliance.
• Increase Liquefied Natural Gas exports by decreasing red tape.
• Simplify NEPA reviews for new coal leases.
• Simplify the process for applying for mining exploration leases.
• Fix the Rosemont decision and the current ancillary mining prohibition.
• Limit the "effects" that must be considered under a NEPA analysis.

For text of the bill, click here.

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