The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed new rules to accelerate liquefied natural gas (LNG) project development, expand export capacity, and reduce costs, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to speed up energy infrastructure development, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on October 28, according to Reuters.

The proposed rules would update the safety framework for LNG facilities by incorporating National Fire Protection Association standards for their siting, design, construction, operation, and maintenance.

The changes would allow operators to adopt new technologies to improve safety and reduce costs, generating an estimated $100 Mn in annual savings, Duffy stated.

The US is the world’s largest LNG exporter and is expected to add another 100 million tons of annual production capacity by the end of the decade, Reuters said.

Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has moved to resume LNG export approvals, which former President Joe Biden had paused, and streamline environmental reviews for energy projects.

The administration’s pro-energy policies have encouraged major LNG exporters, including Cheniere and Venture Global LNG, to advance permitting for additional export capacity.

US LNG projects reaching final investment decisions over nearly two years have represented more than 50 million tons per annum (mtpa) of capacity.

These include Delfin LNG, which is expected to become the country’s first floating LNG export facility. However, the project has yet to receive public clearance from PHMSA to operate the pipeline supplying natural gas to the facility following an explosion earlier in 2026.

The proposed changes would not eliminate the need for LNG developers to obtain permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), secure environmental approvals, and address legal challenges.