Former US Officials Urge Congress to Pass Bipartisan Permitting Reform Bill

Former U.S. economic and national security officials across six administrations are pushing Congress to pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. The legislation, introduced in late September and slated for Senate debate after November 9, aims to overhaul federal environmental reviews under NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Key provisions shorten the deadline for legal challenges against project approvals from up to six years to 150 days, double Clean Water Act NPDES permit durations to 10 years, and require data centers to fund power transmission infrastructure.