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ARTICLE · 30 APRIL 2025

Executive Orders Target Regulatory Reduction: Effects On FERC-Regulated Energy Sector

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On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the Trump Administration (the Administration) issued two Executive Orders (EOs) and a Memorandum aimed at reducing regulatory burdens...

United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
Daniel A. Mullen
Daniel A. Mullen
Karen Bruni
Karen Bruni
William Keyser
William Keyser
Jonathan Wright
Jonathan Wright
Alex Kaung Myat Ahkar
Alex Kaung Myat Ahkar

On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the Trump Administration (the Administration) issued two Executive Orders (EOs) and a Memorandum aimed at reducing regulatory burdens, each with implications for the energy industry. This summary of the two EOs and Memorandum focuses on those portions of each that will impact FERC-regulated public utilities and pipelines from a commercial and regulatory perspective.

Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy (Executive Order)

The asserted purpose of the Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy EO is to rescind "outdated regulations," which the EO states has imposed severe costs on energy production and innovation. This EO mandates that specific federal agencies incorporate sunset provisions into their regulations "governing energy production" under a set of specific statutes, to the extent permitted by law. It calls out FERC and all regulations the agency has issued under the Federal Power Act (FPA),

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