The Department of Defense announced that it will streamline environmental reviews for military construction projects, potentially cutting years off approval timelines.
The new procedures create uniform standards across all DoD branches and expand exemptions from detailed environmental assessments.
The changes arrive as the Trump administration pushes federal agencies to accelerate infrastructure development. Military officials say faster approvals will strengthen national security by speeding the construction of defense facilities.
Under the revised rules, the Pentagon can bypass lengthy reviews for more project categories. The department also established firm deadlines for completing environmental assessments.
“These improvements are essential to modernizing our infrastructure and strengthening our national security,” Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey said in a press release. “By streamlining the environmental review process, we will deliver critical projects more efficiently, ensuring our military and defense industrial base have the facilities and resources needed to defend our nation.”
The overhaul aligns with recent congressional amendments to the National Environmental Policy Act, as outlined in the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act. A recent Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County also supported limiting environmental review requirements.
DoD coordinated with the White House Council on Environmental Quality on the changes. The new procedures take effect immediately.
Military construction projects have faced multi-year delays under previous environmental review requirements. The streamlined process aims to expand defense manufacturing capacity and modernize aging military installations.
The updated procedures apply to all Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force construction projects. They replace a patchwork of service-specific regulations with standardized department-wide rules.