The House of Representatives has passed legislation designed to make it easier for companies to obtain federal permits for building infrastructure that supports artificial intelligence. The measure, called the SPEED Act, cleared the chamber by a 218-213 vote after a conservative rebellion nearly derailed it in a procedural vote. Backed by major technology firms including OpenAI, Micron, and Microsoft, the bill now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to become part of a broader debate over overhauling the permitting process.
A Push to Keep Pace With China
Supporters argue that the United States must outpace China and other global competitors to lead in artificial intelligence, and that doing so depends on securing enough power. “The electricity we will need to power AI computing for civilian and military use is a national imperative,” said Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., the bill’s sponsor and chair of the House Natural Resources Committee.
The SPEED Act would amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the law that requires federal agencies to review projects that could affect the environment. Under the bill, the current six-year statute of limitations for NEPA lawsuits would be cut to 150 days, and deadlines for NEPA reviews would be tightened.
Bipartisan Interest, Partisan Friction
Permitting reform has drawn bipartisan interest in recent months, fueled in part by delays affecting clean energy projects backed by Democrats. Growing demand from AI and energy-hungry data centers has also added strain to the electric grid, increasing pressure on Congress to act. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, a Democrat and the bill’s cosponsor, said the legislation would allow the country to be “nimble enough to build what we need, when we need it.”
Even so, most Democrats voted against the SPEED Act. They argued that any permitting legislation should reverse President Donald Trump’s efforts to halt offshore wind and other renewable energy projects.
A Last-Minute Concession Deepens the Divide
Democratic resistance hardened after GOP leaders inserted language exempting Trump’s moves to block renewable energy from provisions in the bill that would curb the White House’s power to revoke permits it opposes. The change was added during a procedural vote, when conservatives who oppose renewable energy demanded concessions in return for their support.
Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., who supports permitting reform but voted against the SPEED Act, criticized the provision. “That provision codifies a broken permitting status quo. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle in the Senate to craft a bipartisan product that can become law,” he said.
The Trump Administration’s AI Workforce Push
The permitting fight comes as the Trump administration pushes to strengthen America’s AI infrastructure. This month it announced the “U.S. Tech Force,” an initiative that will bring roughly 1,000 engineers and other specialists into federal government to work on artificial intelligence infrastructure and other technology projects.
According to an official government website, participants will sign up for a two-year program in which they work on teams that report directly to agency leaders, in “collaboration with leading technology companies.” The site lists the program’s “private sector partners” as Amazon Web Services, Apple, Google, Dell Technologies, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, Palantir, Salesforce, and many others.
The initiative was unveiled four days after Trump signed an executive order establishing a national AI policy framework. Industry leaders opposed the order, which came as individual states were writing their own AI regulations. Once their two-year terms end, Tech Force members may apply for full-time jobs with companies that have agreed to hire program alumni. Employees of private partners may also be nominated to serve stints in government.
“We’re trying to reshape the workforce to make sure we have the right talent on the right problems,” said Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, speaking recently on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
