Trump Orders Technology Modernization for Infrastructure Permitting

The Trump administration has launched a major initiative to modernize the technology used for federal environmental review and permitting processes, aiming to accelerate project timelines, increase transparency, and reduce bureaucratic delays. A presidential memorandum directs the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), in coordination with the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) and relevant agencies, to deliver a Permitting Technology Action Plan within 45 days. This plan will establish data standards, software requirements, and a roadmap for unified, interagency permitting systems, with agencies required to begin implementation by July 2025. A new Permitting Innovation Center will be created to design and test digital permitting tools to further streamline project reviews. The administration emphasizes that these efforts build on prior modernization work and are intended to expand domestic infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing while maintaining the quality of environmental reviews. Supporters argue that leveraging technology will make permitting more efficient and predictable, while critics note that much of the effort continues work begun under the previous administration.