Removal of National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations

Jan 14, 2026 | rule/policy update

Department/Agency: Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

Action: Final Rule effective January 8, 2026

Highlights:

This final rule from the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) responds to public comments from a Feb. 25, 2025, interim final rule (following Executive Order 14154), which removed NEPA implementing regulations from the CFR, concluding it lacked statutory authority.

This rule responds to comments and finalizes the interim final rule with no changes.

CEQ received comments pertaining to the lack of formal government-to-government consultations with Tribes. In response, CEQ submits that the final rule has no Tribal implications and that any “harms the Tribes assert are speculative.” As a result, CEQ will not be conducting government-to-government consultations.