Trump administration officials are moving to expedite federal permits for pipelines and power lines, aiming to bypass legislative delays while a bipartisan Senate permitting deal remains stalled.
Officials outlined these administrative strategies during a panel at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. The administration’s focus centers on reducing the litigation risks that currently hinder energy infrastructure development.
Interior Deputy Secretary Kate MacGregor said, “A lot of it is transmitting that energy across our country, whether it's power lines, whether it's pipelines, and I think that is now the greatest opportunity, and unfortunately, happens to be one of the areas of greatest … litigation in the country”.
Lee Forsgren, the senior official performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, announced that the Army Corps of Engineers is preparing a rulemaking proposal for the White House Office of Management and Budget. This effort seeks to broaden the use of nationwide permits to increase the viability of energy projects, including transmission lines and pipelines.
HAPPENING NOW AT #AUSA2026: Leadership of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers participate in a discussion about "Delivering for the Nation: Infrastructure, Economic Security, and Crisis Response." Tune in to the livestream: https://t.co/J7WQUu1UE3 pic.twitter.com/8bsntzQFsb
Currently, the Corps manages roughly 100,000 activities annually, with more than half utilizing nationwide permits intended for projects with minimal environmental impact. Forsgren suggested raising the current half-acre limit for these permits to as much as two acres. He noted that individual permits often require one to two years to process, a timeline he aims to reduce to approximately 45 days.
Stephen Vaden, the deputy agriculture secretary, noted that companies developing a facility were told permitting would take years, yet the Army Corps completed the process in 45 days.
The Environmental Protection Agency is shifting more permitting authority to states, citing their ability to manage programs with greater efficiency. EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi reported that the agency has reduced its workforce by approximately 5,000 employees while simultaneously clearing permitting backlogs.
The agency is also working toward a final definition of waters of the U.S. under the Clean Water Act, with a comment period that closed on October 9. The EPA has finalized repeals of certain Biden-era greenhouse gas limits, including a September 14 rule on power plants that the agency estimates will carry $310 billion in savings.
While administration officials pursue these internal changes, a bipartisan Senate proposal—the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026—awaits a floor vote. Introduced on September 30 by leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources and Environment and Public Works committees, the bill aims to address permitting delays through legislative reform.
According to Farm Bureau reporting, the bill proposes limiting lawsuits against energy projects to a 150-day window. Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has expressed confidence that the measure will pass during the upcoming lame-duck session.
Lt. Gen. William “Butch” Graham, the chief of engineers, emphasized the necessity of system reliability for energy producers and shippers.
Interior Deputy Secretary Kate MacGregor said, “What you need is the strength and durability of these decisions to last beyond just one administration”.
Stuart Levenbach, an associate director at the White House Office of Management and Budget, moderated the panel.
