President Donald Trump announced a proposal to loosen methane emission regulations for the oil and gas industry during a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The plan seeks to roll back standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2024. During his second stop of the day in Texas, Trump stated he was \"officially terminating Biden’s expensive and unnecessary methane regulations,\" noting the move was developed alongside EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
The proposed changes target rules governing methane, a gas described as 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the planet. The administration plans to ease restrictions on the burning of excess gas, known as flaring, and eliminate the Super Emitter Program. That program currently requires energy companies to investigate and repair leaks of 100 kilograms of methane per hour or more when flagged by satellites or certified third parties. Additionally, the proposal would create separate, less stringent standards for marginal wells, which produce small amounts of oil but are estimated to account for half of the industry's methane production emissions.
The administration stated the rollback could save the oil and gas sector $45 billion. According to an official, the changes would enable the production of an additional 210 million barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas between 2027 and 2050. These figures represent approximately 10 days of U.S. oil consumption and 15 days of natural gas consumption. In contrast, the 2023 Biden-era regulations were projected to prevent 58 million tons of methane from entering the atmosphere through 2038, which the previous administration equated to the annual emissions of 28 million gas-powered cars.
The scale of the economic impact is estimated at $45 billion in savings for the energy industry over an unspecified period. For the public, the administration estimates the change will result in the production of 210 million barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of gas over a 23-year period. However, the Center for Western Priorities noted that the timing coincides with the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, which the Senate is scheduled to consider the week of November 2, 2026. Section 1401 of that bill would make it difficult for future administrations to alter federal permits in effect on or after September 16, 2026, potentially making these regulatory rollbacks permanent for permitted wells.
If the Senate permitting bill passes, any future attempt by a subsequent administration to reinstate methane leak detection or flaring requirements would require \"clear and convincing evidence\" to prove an exception. Furthermore, if a future administration lost a court challenge regarding such changes, taxpayers would be required to compensate developers for 25 to 50 percent of their total expenditures. The Bureau of Land Management also proposed a parallel rollback in June 2026 to scrap most of its 2024 methane waste rule, including requirements for drillers to submit waste minimization plans. The Senate is expected to take up the permitting legislation following the November midterm elections.