On the first day of his second term in office, President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders that included several provisions aimed at accelerating the federal permitting process. Cutting “red-tape” has been a long term goal, spanning the presidencies of both parties – with the latest attempt yet to play out. Assessing earlier efforts, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) recently released a report highlighting updated timelines for completing Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), a key step in project permitting required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
While the some progress has been made, CEQ’s findings reveal that only 39% of EISs completed since the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023 meet the law’s required two-year deadline. Compared to pre-FRA figures—when just 29% of EISs were completed within two years — still leaving today 61% exceeding the legally required timeframe. Notwithstanding, among the 61 percent, a large number (25%) of EISs are taking five years to complete, while others still languish upwards to a decade.
For a summary of the CEQ Report, see, Bipartisan Policy Center study at: Permitting Speeds Up, but 61% of Reviews Are Still Late | Bipartisan Policy Center
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