Trump Administration Would Slash Public Comment Period for Oil Leases on Federal Land

The Trump administration proposed in June 2026 to eliminate the formal comment period under the National Environmental Policy Act for onshore oil and gas leases, leaving the public only a 10-day protest window. The change would compress multi-month review cycles and make it harder for environmental groups, state agencies, and tribes to build legal challenges. Courts have increasingly scrutinized BLM leasing decisions; a thinner administrative record may complicate future litigation.