Permitting is a key issue for Oklahoma’s newest U.S. Senator, Alan Armstrong. It’s what he has repeated in several interviews, contending the system is not only weak, but broken and needs quick repair if the nation is to become stronger in energy production.
So it remains unclear whether he might be a co-sponsor of Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso’s legislation introduced to reform he called the nation’s broken permitting process and unleash American energy production.
The Let America Build Act of 2026 proposes a slate of reforms based on Barrasso’s 2023 Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources (SPUR) Act. It specifically reforms National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) judicial reviews for coal, oil, and gas projects; reduces federal regulations on oil, gas, and coal permitting; provides deference to state oversight; and streamlines federal reviews.
“Now is the time to unleash America’s energy potential and Wyoming is ready and eager to expand energy production. To do this, we desperately need permitting reform,” said Barrasso. “Our federal permitting process is fundamentally broken. It is burdened by bureaucracy and weaponized by endless litigation. American energy can no longer be held hostage. Every permitting delay costs our communities and our families. We need to produce more energy in order to lower prices. The Let America Build Act is a great place to start.”
Barrasso’s Let America Build Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).
We know this much. The Let America Build Act is supported by the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, the Wyoming Mining Association, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the National Mining Association, the American Exploration and Production Council, and the Western Energy Alliance.
Pete Obermueller, President of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said, “Senator Barrasso’s legislation would open new doors to oil and natural gas production in Wyoming. It would limit the federal government’s white-knuckled grip on control of Wyoming’s surface lands that are not even owned by the federal government. Anti-oil and gas groups who like to block energy projects by filing lawsuit after lawsuit will be required to file them in a reasonable amount of time, and in a judicial jurisdiction that makes some sense.”
Another supporter is Rich Nolan, President and CEO of the National Mining Association.
“As demand for energy and mineral resources continues to grow, it will take thoughtful policy reforms to lift the self-imposed barriers our nation has put in place to ensure we can meet current and future challenges. The strong provisions found in Senator John Barrasso’s (R-Wyo.) Let America Build Act provide a path forward to helping us meet the economic, energy and national security priorities we hold dear.”
Background:
The Let America Build Act of 2026 will:
- Make NEPA Judicial Reforms for oil and gas leasing, including: (1) deadlines for filing lawsuits challenging leases; (2) providing for the remand of court-denied leases to the agency instead of vacatur; and (3) deadlines for agency action, among other reforms.
- Allow state regulatory primacy over drilling permits on federal land.
- Ease split estate permitting (Fee-Fee-Fed) compliance.
- Increase Liquefied Natural Gas exports by decreasing red tape.
- Simplify NEPA reviews for new coal leases.
- Simplify the process for applying for mining exploration leases.
- Fix the Rosemont decision and the current ancillary mining prohibition.
- Limit the “effects” that must be considered under a NEPA analysis.
For text of the bill, click here.
