President Donald Trump has issued a directive ordering federal agencies to streamline environmental reviews and permitting processes for energy and infrastructure projects, emphasizing the “maximum use of technology” to reduce delays and improve efficiency.
In a presidential memorandum released Tuesday, the president ordered a shift away from the traditional, paper-heavy approach to environmental reviews conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The change could have important outcomes for projects ranging from energy transmission lines and highways to manufacturing facilities and power plants, which are often bogged down in regulatory bureaucratic processes for decades.
“The Government does not properly leverage technology to effectively and efficiently evaluate environmental permits, causing significant delay to important infrastructure projects that impact our economic well-being,” Trump explained in the memorandum.
The president’s directive encourages agencies to modernize and digitize their review systems, integrating technologies that can streamline data collection, analysis, and public feedback. The move is part of a broader effort by the administration to cut bureaucratic red tape and accelerate the rollout of key infrastructure projects.
Supporters of the initiative say that using modern tools like GIS mapping, data visualization, and online platforms for public comments can make reviews more accessible, accurate, and timely.
The memorandum did not set a specific timeline for implementation, but it calls on agency heads to report progress and outline how they will integrate technology into their review systems.
Trump’s directive aligns with his administration’s ongoing push to overhaul the nation’s infrastructure, a central campaign promise that includes reducing regulatory burdens and increasing private-sector investment.
The details of the directive include:
Federal agencies are directed to make maximum use of technology to:
Agencies will be required to begin implementing the new technology standards within 90 days of the plan’s release.
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