WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a dramatic escalation of federal action across law enforcement, environmental policy, and national energy strategy, the Department of the Interior this past week unveiled a sweeping series of moves that collectively signal one of the most aggressive operational pushes of the Trump administration. From a massive fentanyl seizure on tribal land to a broad regulatory overhaul of the Endangered Species Act and a bold plan to resurrect expansive offshore oil and gas leasing, officials described a department moving decisively to realign federal power, public safety priorities, and resource management for years to come.
The announcements, issued between November 17 and November 20, illustrate underwhat Interior leaders describe as a coordinated effort to protect tribal communities from deadly narcotics, restore clarity to environmental regulations they say were distorted in recent years, and “unleash” American energy production to meet surging national demand. Together, the actions illustrate the department’s sweeping reach across the intersection of public safety, conservation, and economic development.
Fentanyl Seizure on Tribal Land Marks Major Break in Drug Trafficking Operations
Interior officials opened the week with a stark warning about the drug crisis gripping parts of Indian Country, announcing the seizure of more than 37,000 fentanyl pills—with an estimated street value of nearly $1.5 million—during a coordinated interdiction operation on the Pueblo of Isleta Reservation in New Mexico. The operation, carried out by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement and Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Police, also netted $37,877 in cash and involved support from the Homeland Security Task Force.
“We commend the law enforcement teams … for your unwavering protection of Indian Country,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. He praised the collaboration as an example of the administration’s commitment to keeping communities “safe and free of these very deadly drugs.”
Fentanyl trafficking has struck tribal regions with disproportionate force in recent years, fueling violent crime, addiction, and overdoses. According to the department, illegal narcotics continue to be a major driver of assaults, homicides, and child welfare crises on reservations across the country.
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs William Kirkland emphasized the gravity of the threat.
“Illegal drugs brought into tribal communities continue to be a major contributor to violent crime occurring in Indian Country,” Kirkland said. He credited tribal, federal, and state partnerships for strengthening interdiction efforts and praised President Trump and Secretary Burgum for “continued support in the fierce fight against illegal drug trafficking.”
The seizure is part of a broader crackdown tied to the Opioid Reduction Task Force, established in 2018 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services. The task force was created to support Trump-era initiatives to disrupt narcotics networks and reduce overdose deaths nationwide. While opioid-related fatalities declined modestly in some regions earlier in the decade, fentanyl distribution surged again in the early 2020s, pushing the administration to renew federal coordination with tribal nations and law enforcement agencies.
Interior officials framed the Isleta seizure as both a tactical success and a warning shot to trafficking operations that target tribal lands as distribution corridors. Leaders emphasized that more enforcement operations are forthcoming.
Interior Moves to Restore 2019–2020 ESA Regulations, Replace 2024 Framework
Two days later, the department shifted its focus from public safety to environmental law, unveiling four proposed rules aimed at reinstating Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations from 2019 and 2020—a move officials say will restore legal clarity, reduce regulatory burdens, and support American energy independence.
The proposals would reverse 2024 regulations issued under the Biden administration, which Interior leaders argue expanded federal reach beyond the statute’s original intent and created burdensome complications for landowners, developers, and energy producers. The rules were developed in coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Department of Commerce.
“This administration is restoring the Endangered Species Act to its original intent,” Secretary Burgum said. “These revisions end years of legal confusion and regulatory overreach.”
The four proposals cover:
Listing and Critical Habitat:
A return to 2019 standards, ensuring decisions rely on the “best scientific and commercial data” while permitting transparent consideration of economic impacts. The rule reinstates flexibility when designating critical habitat and restores the two-step process for evaluating unoccupied habitat.
Interagency Cooperation:
A reinstatement of 2019 definitions governing how agencies evaluate environmental impacts, removing offset provisions adopted in 2024 and restoring ESA Section 7 procedures consistent with statutory language. Officials said the changes respond directly to the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, which overturned the Chevron doctrine and limited agency interpretive authority.
Threatened Species Protections (Section 4(d)):
Elimination of the blanket rule option, requiring species-specific 4(d) rules tailored to each case. The department said this change reflects “the single best reading of the statute under Loper Bright” and removes unnecessary restrictions.
Critical Habitat Exclusions (Section 4(b)(2)):
A reinstatement of the 2020 rule detailing how economic, national security, and other impacts should be considered when determining whether areas should be excluded from critical habitat.
Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik called the changes a “return to science-based conservation that works hand in hand with America’s energy, agricultural and infrastructure priorities.”
The proposed rules will open a 30-day public comment period beginning November 21. Interior officials said the updates are designed to provide predictability to landowners and developers while maintaining species protections consistent with the statute and federal court rulings.
Offshore Energy Plan Signals Aggressive Move Toward “American Energy Dominance”
On November 20, the department shifted into full energy-policy mode, announcing a new Secretary’s Order titled “Unleashing American Offshore Energy.” The action directs the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to dismantle the restrictive Biden 2024–2029 National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program and replace it with a far more ambitious plan by October 2026.
Interior simultaneously unveiled the Draft Proposed Program for the 11th National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which could include up to 34 potential lease sales across 21 of 27 existing planning areas—covering nearly 1.27 billion acres.
The plan represents one of the most expansive offshore leasing proposals in modern U.S. history.
“Offshore oil and gas production does not happen overnight,” Burgum said. “By moving forward with a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come.”
The proposed areas include:
- 21 planning areas off Alaska
- 7 areas in the Gulf of America
- 6 regions along the Pacific Coast
- A new administrative planning area, the South-Central Gulf of America
The move follows Executive Order 14154 and Secretary’s Order 3418, both titled “Unleashing American Energy,” which instruct Interior bureaus to remove barriers to domestic resource development while ensuring compliance with federal environmental laws.
Industry advocates praised the new direction.
“For years, confidence was undercut by the Biden administration’s failed leasing policies,” said Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Council. He said the new plan will “restore energy security, protect American jobs, and strengthen the nation’s ability to lead on energy.”
Current OCS activity includes 2,073 active leases covering 11.2 million acres, accounting for roughly 15% of U.S. oil production. Officials estimate the OCS still holds 68.8 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 229 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The department noted that inclusion of a planning area in the proposal does not guarantee final inclusion or future lease sales. Each sale will undergo additional review, environmental analysis, and public comment. A 60-day public comment period will begin November 24.
A Department Moving on Multiple Fronts
Taken together, the week’s developments reveal a department executing a far-reaching agenda across multiple arenas: law enforcement, environmental regulation, and energy policy.
The fentanyl seizure highlights an ongoing crisis in tribal communities, where drug trafficking and addiction have compounded long-standing public safety and health challenges. Interior leaders say the crackdown will continue as part of a multi-agency strategy to protect the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
The ESA regulatory overhaul reflects the administration’s broader effort to limit federal agency discretion, align regulations with statutory language, and reduce burdens on industries central to energy development and land use. Officials argue that clarity in environmental law is essential to economic stability and national energy supply.
The offshore energy plan signals a major expansion of federal support for domestic fossil fuel production at a time when demand remains high, geopolitical disruptions persist, and concerns about global supply chains are growing. Officials frame the initiative as vital to national security and economic resilience.
Interior leaders said the accelerated pace of action is intentional, reflecting urgent national priorities.
“From public safety to conservation to energy independence, we are taking bold steps to secure America’s future,” Burgum said.
With public comment periods opening and new rulemaking phases beginning, the coming months will shape the final form of the administration’s strategy — and determine how far-reaching the impact will be on communities, industries, and ecosystems nationwide.
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