U.S. Energy Department Unveils Initial Actions to Advance Trump Administration’s Agenda

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed an order, directing the U.S. Department of Energy to take actions to advance President Trump’s energy agenda. The department outlined a number of actions to implement President Trump’s executive orders including expanding energy production, advancing energy innovation, enabling next generation nuclear power technology, and strengthening grid reliability.

As part of this effort, the department will review the Appliance Standards Program to ensure regulations consider both upfront costs and actual savings for consumers. The department aims to strike a balance between affordability and consumer choice, ensuring that regulations do not push valued products out of the market.

The department will also allocate resources to technologies that will enhance basic science, develop U.S. scientific leadership, lower costs for U.S. households, reinforce the reliability of the domestic energy system, and strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and supply chain security.

Additionally, the department will assess the infrastructure of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and develop suitable strategies to protect this vital strategic asset. The agency is also committed to facilitating the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technology to strengthen the U.S. energy sector.

Pursuant to President Trump’s executive order “Declaring a National Energy Emergency,” the department will identify and exercise all legal authorities necessary to enhance the nation’s power grid, particularly its transmission system. The department will prioritize efficient permitting processes to encourage private-sector investment in energy infrastructure, making energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. By streamlining approvals and supporting infrastructure expansion, the agency aims to accelerate energy development while maintaining a commonsense approach to regulation.

President Trump issued a series of executive actions on Jan. 20 signaling significant changes in the U.S. energy landscape, including declaring a national energy emergency, expanding fossil fuel development, suspending offshore wind initiatives, and withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. These actions represent a sharp departure from former President Biden’s renewable energy and climate-focused policies.