Trump Administration Issues EO to Streamline Federal Data Center Permitting

On July 23, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled "Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure," alongside the release of "Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan," aiming to expedite the development of AI-related data centers and supporting infrastructure across the United States. The EO and the Plan focus on streamlining federal environmental reviews and permitting processes under statutes like NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act, particularly for "Qualifying Projects" which include large-scale data centers and related energy infrastructure with commitments exceeding $500 million or 100 megawatts of incremental electric load. These initiatives also direct federal agencies to make available federally owned and military lands for such projects and provide financial support through loans, grants, and tax incentives. The Administration emphasizes that the infrastructure must be built without adversarial technology that could undermine U.S. AI dominance, aligning with the America First policy. Proposed regulatory changes include new categorical exclusions to fast-track routine data center construction, revisions to permitting requirements to reduce delays, and expedited reuse of Brownfield and Superfund sites. Overall, the strategy aims to remove regulatory obstacles to accelerate AI innovation and infrastructure buildout critical for national security and economic competitiveness.