Proof in Trial: Appellate Edition: Stand Up for California et al. v. U.S. Department of the Interior et al.
On July 15, 2025, the Office of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (the “Department”) issued a memorandum—“Departmental Review Procedures for Decisions, Actions, Consultations, and Other Undertakings Related to...more
Over the past eight months, the legal framework governing environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has undergone significant upheaval—with additional changes still on the way. Here’s what’s...more
On July 3, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Army Corps”), and the Departments of Energy (“DOE”), Interior (“DOI”), Transportation (“DOT”),...more
In the past two weeks, six federal permitting agencies — the U.S. Departments of Interior (USDOI), Agriculture (USDA), Energy (DOE), Commerce (DoC), Defense (DoD), and Transportation (USDOT) — withdrew most of their National...more
Establishes the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission to coordinate federal conservation efforts and expand outdoor recreation access. The Commission is directed to promote natural resource stewardship, reduce...more
Directs DOI and USDA to consolidate wildland fire programs, expand local partnerships, develop a technology roadmap, and revise rules to enable more effective wildfire prevention and response. It also instructs multiple...more
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced on May 30 that it will invoke emergency permitting procedures to accelerate environmental review of select geothermal energy projects, with three proposed geothermal...more
The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) issued a Request for Information (RFI) asking affected industries to identify existing Interior regulations that can be modified or repealed to support the Trump administration’s "energy...more
On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior reversed its April 16 stop work order and allowed the $5 billion, 2 GW, Empire Wind project 12 miles south of Long Island to proceed. The move follows an intensive lobbying...more
The Natural Resources Defense Council and Waterkeepers (collectively, “NRDC”) submitted on May 6th a document to the United States Department of Interior (“DOI”) styled: Petition to the Secretary of Interior to Enforce...more
On April 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) announced newly adopted emergency permitting procedures it is implementing to accelerate the review and approval of projects in relation “to the identification,...more
On April 14, 2025, the United States Department of the Interior announced a series of Tribal Consultations. The purpose of the consultations is to address the new administration’s goal of “working to enhance government...more
On Wednesday, April 16, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to order Equinor to “stop work” on its 812 megawatt Empire Wind 1 project just outside of New York Harbor....more
Ensure appropriations to the Smithsonian Institution prohibit expenditures on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with...more
On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14241 (EO), 90 Fed. Reg. 13673 (Mar. 25, 2025), aimed at promoting domestic mineral production for national security. The EO relies on authority under 3 U.S.C. § 301...more
The “Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge” will be renamed as the “Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge” to honor Jocelyn Nungaray, whose life was tragically cut short on June 17, 2024, when she was brutally murdered in...more
This EO states, “It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes....more
Amidst much fanfare, on Friday President Trump released a Presidential Memoranda (much like an Executive Order, yet different?) directing Federal agencies to work together to reduce regulatory burdens on Western water...more
• How have appellate courts applied the Supreme Court’s ruling in Escobar? • If the government is aware of the relator’s allegation, but does not undertake any administrative action to address the defendant’s alleged...more