Court Orders Interior Department to End Wind and Solar Permitting Delays; Burgum Disagrees

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum criticized a district court ruling that ordered the Interior Department to end policies delaying federal permitting for wind and solar projects on federal lands, according to the Washington Examiner. Burgum avoided committing to comply with the ruling during a fiscal 2027 budget hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday.

The hearing featured pointed exchanges where committee ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-NM) pressed Burgum on whether the department would follow the injunction.

A federal judge in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction earlier in April 2026 in favor of a group of clean energy advocacy and trade groups. These groups claimed the administration unlawfully implemented policies preventing development of renewable energy resources.

The policies included requiring nearly every step of the federal permitting process for wind and solar to receive direct approval from the interior secretary, prohibiting renewable developers from using an online government tool aimed at streamlining environmental reviews, and an order that effectively barred wind and solar projects on federal land.

Burgum stated that the administration disagrees with the ruling. The Interior Department did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment. Burgum referenced permitting delays under former President Joe Biden.

While the Biden administration outpaced the first Trump administration in oil and gas drilling permit approvals in its first two years, Biden approved a number of regulations limiting where oil and gas development could occur on federal lands due to environmental risks and paused federal approvals for liquefied natural gas export facilities.

A senator criticized Burgum for shifting focus to past delays, emphasizing the need for a neutral, fact-based permitting process. Burgum indicated the administration would push against the court order, saying it was absurd that a court would limit project reviews. Heinrich countered that the department could review projects but must eventually make decisions.

The exchanges highlighted tensions over even-handed application of permitting reforms across energy resources.