Interior 'Emergency' Plan Will Reduce Public Input, Make It Harder to Responsibly Transition to Clean Energy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 24, 2025) - The Department of the Interior's "emergency" plan to change permitting processes for mining, oil and gas, and other select minerals and energy sources, including drastically reducing the window for public comment, will make it harder for the United States to responsibly compete on the global stage and exacerbate the challenges facing people and wildlife.

"This 'emergency' move by the Interior Department will do little to address the immense and interconnected challenges facing people and wildlife. If anything, fast-tracking the development of mines and last century's energy sources will only exacerbate the climate, wildlife, and environmental justice crises of the 21st century and make us less competitive on the global stage," said Abby Tinsley, vice president for conservation policy at the National Wildlife Federation. "A good faith effort to improve energy and mine permitting requires a fully funded and staffed Department of Interior that can carefully consider the environmental impacts and ensure enough time for public comment. At a time when we need to responsibly accelerate our transition to job-creating clean energy projects, the Department of the Interior is making it harder to responsibly pursue innovation and the energy transition that we need."