The Trump administration has marked a significant policy shift by announcing plans to conduct 21 oil and gas lease sales in 2025. This move stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration's first year, which saw no such lease sales. According to reports, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management have already completed 11 lease sales under the current administration, generating over $110 million in revenue for American taxpayers. With ten additional lease sales scheduled for the remainder of 2025, the administration is signaling a strong commitment to expanding domestic energy production.
During Biden's tenure, comprehensive restrictions were placed on offshore drilling activities, and a record-low offshore oil and gas leasing schedule was approved. However, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has emphasized a renewed focus on American energy under President Trump. "President Donald Trump has revived American energy," Burgum stated, criticizing the previous administration for wasting energy resources at taxpayers' expense. He asserts that Americans can now anticipate a more affordable and reliable energy future, with the number of new lease sales serving as evidence of the administration's priorities.
The policy shift is further underscored by the issuance of 3,608 new oil and gas permits during Trump's second term so far, a significant increase over the 2,528 permits issued during the entire Biden administration. Federal drilling permit approvals have exceeded previous administrations' numbers by 43 percent at the same point in their presidencies. This comparative analysis by the Department of Interior demonstrates the administration's aggressive stance on energy development.
Over 450,000 acres of federal land have been opened for potential energy development projects, indicating an expansion of drilling opportunities. The Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management project that they are on track to approve more drilling permits than any other fiscal year in the past 15 years, based on current application rates.
Trump's executive order on his first day back in office to "unleash American energy" set the stage for this expansion. A "National Energy Dominance Council" was established, and the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" provided legislative direction, ordering the Department of Interior to resume onshore quarterly lease sales in specified states.
This focus on conventional energy resources starkly contrasts with the Biden administration's approach, which froze liquified natural gas exports and blocked the Keystone XL pipeline project on its first day. Biden emphasized renewable energy development, providing billions in subsidies, loans, and grants for wind and solar projects across the country.
