Accelerating Federal Permitting Of Data Center Infrastructure

It directs agencies to reduce regulatory delays and use federal resources to speed projects involving major investment, more than 100 megawatts of new electric load, or national security needs.

What the order does ​

• Launches a Commerce-led initiative offering potential loans, guarantees, grants, tax incentives, and purchase agreements for qualifying projects.
• Directs agencies to expand environmental-review exclusions and presumes federal assistance below 50% of project costs lacks substantial federal control under NEPA.
• Creates pathways to place qualifying projects on the federal permitting dashboard and expedite their transition into FAST-41 covered projects.
• Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to streamline relevant regulations and identify brownfields and Superfund sites suitable for reuse.
• Orders coordinated endangered-species reviews and a review of nationwide water and wetlands permits for common project activities.
• Directs the Interior and Energy Departments to offer appropriate federal-site authorizations and allows competitive leasing of suitable military land.
• Revokes the January 2025 order on advancing U.S. leadership in AI infrastructure.

Who it affects ​

• Sponsors of large AI data centers and projects producing their power, semiconductor, networking, and storage components.
• Energy utilities, manufacturers, construction firms, and technology suppliers supporting qualifying projects.
• States, private landowners, and communities associated with selected federal, military, brownfield, or Superfund sites.

Context ​

Qualifying projects generally involve at least $500 million in capital spending, more than 100 megawatts of added electric load, national security, or designation by specified Cabinet officials.