With President Donald Trump and Secretary Chris Wright at the helm, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has reported several changes in national energy policy and production over the past year.
According to the DOE, gas prices have reached a five-year low, averaging about $2.80 per gallon. The department claims that these lower prices resulted in more than $500 million in savings for Americans during the recent holiday season. The United States now leads global oil and natural gas production, with output reaching 24.2 million barrels of oil per day—surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia combined—and 108 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
On his first day in office, President Trump directed the DOE to end the previous administration’s ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Since then, approvals for LNG export capacity have exceeded current volumes exported by the world’s second-largest LNG exporter.
The DOE reports declines in propane, kerosene, firewood, and fuel oil prices since President Trump took office. Additionally, efforts are underway to refill and repair the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after it was depleted under the prior administration.
In May 2025, the department announced its largest deregulatory initiative to date: a proposal to eliminate 47 regulations identified as contributing to higher consumer costs. This move is estimated by DOE to save Americans $11 billion in future expenses. By March 2025, four conservation standards were withdrawn—including those covering electric motors and ceiling fans—with DOE citing goals of reducing regulatory burdens and increasing consumer choice.
Since January 2025, there have been 27 completed deregulatory actions related to appliance and equipment standards. According to DOE estimates, these changes could avoid approximately $254 million annually in first costs for consumers and businesses.
DOE officials state that emergency orders issued this year aimed at grid reliability helped maintain electricity supplies during extreme weather events and periods of peak demand. In response to plans from the previous administration that would have reduced coal-, natural gas-, and hydro-powered electricity plants, DOE reversed course on several closures—particularly halting policies affecting hydroelectric power generation in regions like the Columbia River Basin.
The department reallocated $365 million toward addressing Puerto Rico’s ongoing power grid crisis in October 2025. It also canceled over $13 billion in unobligated funds previously designated for clean energy initiatives described as wasteful by current leadership.
Coal industry support remains a stated priority for this administration. “Thanks to President Trump, wages for coal workers are up and coal plants across the country are reversing plans to shut down,” said Secretary Wright’s office. At year-end 2025, more than 17 gigawatts of coal-fired generation were reportedly saved from closure; five specific plants remained open due to federal intervention.
Efforts are also being made within nuclear energy development as part of what officials describe as an “American Nuclear Renaissance.” Initiatives include awarding $800 million for small modular reactor deployment through TVA and Holtec; investing $2.7 billion toward domestic uranium enrichment; closing a $1 billion loan supporting a Pennsylvania nuclear plant restart; funding advanced nuclear fuel projects; conditional commitments for high-assay low-enriched uranium supply; selections under a pilot program advancing new reactor technologies; site choices for AI data centers linked with energy infrastructure; and accelerating advanced nuclear reactor development programs throughout mid-2025 into early 2026.
Regarding critical minerals supply chains—which underpin many modern technologies—the DOE has announced hundreds of millions of dollars in funding opportunities targeting extraction from industrial byproducts as well as rare earth element recovery from unconventional sources. A restructured loan agreement with Lithium Americas provides taxpayers with equity ownership while establishing a domestic lithium carbonate source.
Modernization efforts extend into national security domains via updates within the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Legislation signed earlier this year allocated more than $3 billion toward modernization work at NNSA facilities—including completion ahead-of-schedule on key gravity bomb upgrades (B61-13) and warhead modernization programs (W88 Alt 370). Two new supercomputers have been deployed at Los Alamos National Laboratory aimed at enhancing research capacities relevant both nationally and scientifically.
Science initiatives continue under directives such as Executive Order 14363—signed November 24th—tasking DOE with leading a flagship artificial intelligence project called Genesis Mission designed around public-private collaboration leveraging scientific expertise within government facilities. Further advancements target fusion energy commercialization following release of an updated Fusion Science & Technology Roadmap by DOE last October.
