U.S. Oil and Gas Permits Soared in 2025

The past year has seen a 55% increase in oil and gas drilling permits on public lands (POLITICO Pro, subscription).

What’s going on: “The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management approved 5,742 permits to drill between Jan. 20, 2025—the first day of President Donald Trump’s second term—and Jan. 6 of this year, according to data from the agency.”

The previous administration issued just 3,696 in a similar period from 2024 to 2025.
The current administration also held 22 lease sales last year, covering “328,000 new acres of public land across 10 states for oil and gas development.”

Why it’s crucial: Increasing drilling on federal lands is a cornerstone of the administration’s Day One “Unleashing American Energy” agenda, which the NAM supports.

“Expanding domestic energy production drives innovation, creates jobs and powers the growth that keeps America at the forefront of the global economy,” NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons posted on X last January, following the executive order’s release.

The forecast: The U.S. Energy Information Administration has predicted a slight decline in U.S. crude oil production this year, from 13.6 million barrels a day to 13.5 million barrels a day.

Our take: “Oil and gas is and will continue to be a crucial component of a sustainable, affordable and reliable U.S. energy mix,” said NAM Director of Energy and Resources Policy Michael Davin.

“With power demand set to increase in the coming years, it will be even more important for us to use all available sources at our disposal for dependable energy.”