President Trump Declares National Energy Emergency to Address Infrastructure and Supply Challenges

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order declaring a national energy emergency, citing significant inadequacies in the United States’ energy supply, infrastructure, and capacity to meet current and future demands. This action, made under the National Emergencies Act, is intended to prioritize and expedite efforts to strengthen domestic energy production, transportation, refining, and generation while mitigating vulnerabilities to national security and economic stability.

President Trump attributed the crisis to prior administration policies, stating that these policies led to high energy costs, unreliable supply chains, and increased vulnerability to hostile foreign actors and market disruptions.

The order outlines an approach to address the nation’s energy deficiencies, emphasizing the need for a diversified and reliable energy supply to support the economy, national defense, and emerging technological advancements. Key directives include:

1. Emergency Approvals: Federal agencies are instructed to utilize lawful emergency authorities to accelerate the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources, including the use of federal lands. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with the Department of Energy, may issue emergency fuel waivers to ensure the continued supply of gasoline, including E15 fuel, across the country.
2. Energy Infrastructure Development: Agencies are directed to expedite the completion of authorized energy infrastructure projects. This includes identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in energy supply chains, particularly on the West Coast, Northeast, and Alaska.
3. Clean Water Act and Army Corps Permitting: Agencies are required to use emergency provisions under the Clean Water Act to facilitate energy-related projects. Reports on planned or potential actions will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other federal officials for regular updates throughout the emergency.
4. Endangered Species Act (ESA) Consultation: The order calls for expedited consultations under the ESA to reduce regulatory obstacles to energy projects while ensuring compliance with environmental laws. Federal agencies must provide ongoing reports on actions and their status.
5. Defense Infrastructure Assessment: The Department of Defense will assess its ability to acquire and transport energy required for homeland protection and international operations. The assessment will identify specific vulnerabilities, particularly in refining and transportation infrastructure.
6. Energy Security and Job Creation: The order envisions leveraging unrealized domestic energy resources not only to strengthen the nation’s energy independence but also to create jobs, support trade balance, and enhance alliances with international partners through energy exports.

The executive order also invokes the Defense Production Act and other emergency powers to address identified vulnerabilities and accelerate energy production and infrastructure projects.

For the full executive order and further details on the scope and impact of this national emergency click here.