The ongoing government shutdown doesn’t seem to hinder the Trump administration’s approach to its policy goals, especially concerning fossil fuels.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a contingency plan for managing the closure, stating that staff tasked with handling oil and gas leases, coal leases, and other necessary energy resources will keep working.
Since the shutdown began, the agency has approved 474 drilling permits for public land between October 1 and Wednesday. These figures are comparable to recent months, with 494 permits approved in August and 505 in September.
Interior Secretary Burgum shared at a recent event that the government is actively seeking to maximize revenue through activities like permit approvals.
“Whether it’s park admissions or permits, there’s no one collecting it. We’re gathering all the cash lying around to continue paying essential personnel, including those processing permits,” Burgum said at a Foundation for Defense of Democracies event last week.
“We’re in a better position than last year concerning permits—timber, grazing, oil and gas, infrastructure. We’re doing everything to avoid hindrances on federal land,” he continued.
Kirsten Peters, a spokeswoman for the Interior Department, mentioned in an email that drilling permits are being processed along with their requisite application fees.
She added that the BLM collects non-refundable fees when operators submit permit applications.
Interestingly, Burgum indicated that more job cuts could be contemplated due to funding issues. The Trump administration has aimed at reducing the workforce, but legal actions have impeded layoffs during the shutdown.
“We’re evaluating if all these resources are necessary,” Burgum remarked, directing criticism toward Democrats amid the shutdown.
“Maybe they’re helping us realize we don’t require as many employees or expenses,” he noted.
The Interior Department is particularly focused on advancing fossil fuel initiatives despite other governmental disruptions caused by the shutdown.
The BLM’s emergency response framework specifies that some staff will continue working to “address the national energy emergency.”
Similarly, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has designated personnel to prioritize “conventional energy projects,” which typically relate to fossil fuels.
These priority initiatives include preparing government plans for offshore drilling over the next few years, as well as setting up schedules for “anticipated offshore critical mineral lease sales and oil and gas development plans for 2026.”
While seabed mining hasn’t been widely undertaken, the White House has instructed the Department of the Interior to kick-start a program for it, with intentions to auction off mineral rights next year.
Upon announcing the shutdown plan, the Interior Department declared it would “ensure that permitting and other efforts tied to U.S. energy dominance continue.”
Critics argue that it’s inappropriate to continue funding fossil fuel approvals while slashing essential services.
“They can’t fund SNAP benefits, yet they manage to perpetuate oil and gas drilling. This reflects the administration’s true priorities,” stated Aaron Weiss, of conservation group Center for Western Priorities.
President Trump has consistently vocalized support for fossil fuels while expressing disdain for renewable energy, often repeating his mantra of “drill, baby drill.”
Additionally, reports indicate that officials at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are formulating a strategy to relax mercury emission regulations from coal-fired plants.
According to a key EPA official, many employees focused on chemicals still remain active during the shutdown.
“We are deliberately ensuring that the EPA’s structure emphasizes legal obligations and the President’s priorities, rather than reverting to overreach from the previous administration,” an EPA spokesperson stated in an email.
“Despite the Democratic shutdown, we are committed to our mission of preserving clean air, land, and water for all Americans while dismantling the Biden administration’s costly policies,” they added. Most EPA staff, however, will be furloughed as per the closure protocol.
The closure plan specifies that the issuance of “permits, guidance, regulations, and policies” will halt, except where necessary for exempt or excluded activities.
