Trump Teases Fast-Track Environmental Approvals for Billion-Dollar Investments

President-elect Donald Trump has sparked controversy with a proposal to expedite environmental approvals for companies and individuals investing at least $1 billion in the United States, Al Jazeera reports.

In a series of social media posts on Tuesday, Trump hinted at streamlining the permitting process as a means of boosting the US economy.

The announcement immediately drew sharp criticism from environmental advocacy groups, who view the plan as a potential weakening of environmental protections.

Details on how Trump intends to implement this scheme within existing legal frameworks remain scarce. The 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, for example, mandates environmental reviews and permitting for major federally funded projects.

However, Trump’s history suggests a willingness to significantly curtail environmental regulations. During his first presidency (2017-2021), he rolled back about 112 environmental rules, according to a New York Times analysis, weakening or partially dismantling others. These actions targeted standards for greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and offshore drilling

His current campaign platform echoes this stance. Trump has again pledged to reduce restrictions on oil and gas production, including the repeal of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark climate change law. This commitment aligns with his “America First” agenda, which prioritizes returning manufacturing jobs to the US through protectionist trade policies and incentives for domestic investment. T