Trump's $1 billion fast-track plan faces legal and regulatory hurdles of its own

President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to expedite federal permits for construction projects exceeding $1 billion in investment, reports the Journal, aiming to stimulate economic growth by streamlining approvals, including environmental clearances. This initiative has garnered support from various sectors, such as clean energy and oil and gas, which have long criticized the protracted permitting processes.

President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to expedite federal permits for construction projects exceeding $1 billion in investment, aiming to stimulate economic growth by streamlining approvals, including environmental clearances. This initiative has garnered support from various sectors, such as clean energy and oil and gas, which have long criticized the protracted permitting processes.

However, the proposal faces significant legal and regulatory challenges. Critics argue that bypassing established environmental regulations, like the National Environmental Policy Act, could lead to extensive legal battles and potential violations of federal law. Tyson Slocum, director of the energy program at Public Citizen, questioned the president's authority to waive these rules based solely on investment size.

Moreover, certain federal agencies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, operate independently of executive authority, complicating efforts to uniformly expedite permits. State and local environmental regulations add further layers of complexity.

Trump's plan includes establishing a National Energy Council to oversee energy policy and streamline coordination among federal departments involved in permitting and regulation. He has nominated North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as Interior Secretary and chair of the council, and oil-and-gas executive Chris Wright as Energy Secretary.