How Trump plans to fast-track mining in Montana
Even without a permitting reform law, the Trump administration’s efforts to cut red tape for industrial development are taking effect.
Over the past two years, the Trump administration has sought to accelerate industrial development through regulatory rollbacks and executive orders. One such initiative is FAST-41, a provision of Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. Initially introduced in 2015 under Obama, FAST-41 aims to streamline federal review for large-scale infrastructure projects and improve access to permits and documents.
However, Trump expanded the scope of eligible projects in July 2025 to include AI data centers, stating that federal resources would be used to expedite development for the benefit of American people.
FAST-41 shares similarities with the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, which passed the Senate recently. The legislation seeks to overhaul environmental regulations, judicial review, and the permitting process to expedite project completion from proposals to construction. While FAST-41 does not alter existing environmental statutes, it only applies to projects listed under the policy.
Reforming the permitting process has become a bipartisan issue, with lawmakers on both sides citing the lengthy process as a hindrance to economic development. Environmental groups, however, warn that certain expansions could lead to increased emissions. FAST-41 includes a dashboard for tracking project timelines, required actions, and the status of environmental review and permits. The Permitting Council, composed of representatives from 15 federal agencies, oversees the process.
Montana, a state with a history of mining and extractive industries, has entered into an agreement with the Permitting Council. This collaboration aims to identify projects eligible for FAST-41 designation, provide resources to state agencies, and include state-level permitting actions on the federal dashboard. Governor Greg Gianforte emphasized that this memorandum of understanding (MOU) will ensure critical infrastructure projects avoid unnecessary roadblocks after federal and state environmental review processes.
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