--- title: "1. Views on Trump administration energy policies and priorities" description: "The Trump administration has taken a number of actions to promote the development and use of fossil fuels and reduce support for renewable energy. This includes a push to increase drilling for oil and natural gas on federal lands and an executive order pausing approvals and permits for wind energy projects, including offshore wind. Where […]" date: "2025-06-05" authors: - name: "Brian Kennedy" job_title: "Senior Researcher" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/brian-kennedy/" - name: "Emma Kikuchi" job_title: "Research Analyst" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/emma-kikuchi/" - name: "Alec Tyson" job_title: "Former Associate Director" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/alec-tyson/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2025/06/05/views-on-trump-administration-energy-policies-and-priorities/" categories: - "Climate, Energy & Environment" - "Energy" - "Partisanship & Issues" - "Political Issues" --- # 1. Views on Trump administration energy policies and priorities The Trump administration has taken [a number of actions](https://apnews.com/article/trump-energy-fossil-fuels-climate-change-lng-oil-gas-960ceedcd9d55d2a658b5c6b270ee632) to promote the development and use of fossil fuels and reduce support for renewable energy. This includes [a push to increase](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5265095-trump-administration-fossil-fuels-mining-public-lands/) drilling for oil and natural gas on federal lands and [an executive order](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/21/trump-laid-out-a-sweeping-energy-agenda-here-are-all-the-key-actions-he-took-on-day-one.html) pausing approvals and permits for wind energy projects, including offshore wind. Where do Americans stand on these issues? [![Chart shows Public views on drilling for oil and natural gas on federal land](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/06/PS_2025.6.5_energy_00-04.png?w=420)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=261053) **When asked about drilling for oil and natural gas on federal land, 33% of Americans say it should be increased and 28% say it should be decreased.** The remainder say the amount of oil and natural drilling should be kept the same as it is now (19%) or are not sure (20%). Democrats and Republicans have divergent views on this question, reflecting broader differences on fossil fuel production and use. A majority of Republicans (57%) say drilling for oil and natural gas on federal land should be increased, while only 9% say it should be decreased. In contrast, almost half of Democrats say oil and natural gas drilling should be decreased and about one-in-ten say it should be increased. [![Chart shows Most Americans support more offshore wind farms](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/06/PS_2025.6.5_energy_00-05.png?w=420)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=261052) Younger Republicans are far less likely than older Republicans to say oil and natural gas drilling should be increased on federal land. Roughly one-third of Republicans ages 18 to 29 (34%) say drilling for oil and natural gas on federally owned land should be increased, compared with 70% of Republicans 50 and older. A smaller share of Republicans 18 to 29 (15%) think drilling for oil and natural gas on federal land should be decreased. The survey asked roughly half of respondents whether they favor or oppose more *offshore* wind turbine farms (the other half of respondents were asked about their views on “wind turbine farms,” which is regularly included in our surveys on energy).** About seven-in-ten favor more offshore wind farms (69%), while three-in-ten oppose this. **More than eight-in-ten Democrats (84%) favor more offshore wind power, while about half of Republicans do (52%). ### Views on environmental regulations In March, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would [scale back many environmental regulations](https://www.npr.org/2025/03/12/nx-s1-5326354/trump-epa-environmental-rules-rollback-deregulation), including rules and policies that regulate emissions from cars and trucks. Slightly more than half (54%) of Americans say it is possible to cut back on environmental regulations and still protect air and water quality in the U.S., while 45% say it’s not possible. [![Chart shows Republicans largely say it is possible to cut back on environmental regulations and still protect air and water quality; Democrats say the opposite](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/06/PS_2025.6.5_energy_00-06.png?w=420)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=261051) Republicans and Democrats have opposite positions on this question: 77% of Republicans say it is possible to cut back on environmental regulations and still protect air and water quality, and 67% of Democrats say it is not possible. --- **Next:** [2. Americans’ interest in purchasing electric and hybrid vehicles](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2025/06/05/americans-interest-in-purchasing-electric-and-hybrid-vehicles.md)