Trump-Approved LNG Terminal in Louisiana Faces Backlash Over Environmental Concerns

A recent federal court ruling has allowed the Delfin LNG deepwater export terminal to move forward, despite significant environmental concerns. The Trump administration approved the project in March 2025, citing a presidential order to expedite all permits for oil and gas extraction.

The terminal is slated to be built 40 miles off Louisiana's Gulf Coast and will ship some 13 million tons of liquified natural gas overseas each year. Environmental advocates argue that the project will contribute to poor air quality and extreme weather in the region, as well as harm protected marine species such as bottlenose dolphins.

The Center for Biological Diversity, along with the Sierra Club and Habitat Recovery Project, filed a suit last year to demand a review of the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration's issuance of a license for the Delfin terminal. Unfortunately, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled against them earlier this month.