Speeding Up Obama-Era Process: Trump Expedites Federal Approval for Data Center Construction
President Donald J. Trump's executive orders and initiatives have been instrumental in advancing the rapid buildout of data center infrastructure and strengthening America's AI and manufacturing leadership.
One of the key orders, the Executive Order on Data Center Permitting and Incentives, aims to streamline the development of AI data centers by accelerating environmental reviews and permitting processes. This includes qualifying projects for expedited permitting under the FAST-41 framework, a designation that speeds up infrastructure development. Furthermore, it directs the Secretary of Commerce to initiate an initiative to provide financial support such as loans, grants, and tax incentives to support data center development.
Data centers that consume more than 100 megawatts are eligible for these measures, as defined by the order.
The America's AI Action Plan, another significant initiative, focuses on building out the necessary infrastructure for AI dominance, including data centers, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and new energy sources. The plan proposes reforms to environmental regulations, such as creating categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and streamlining permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Clean Air Act (CAA).
The plan also emphasises the importance of securing U.S. AI dominance by ensuring that infrastructure is built without adversarial technology.
In terms of manufacturing leadership, the initiatives include support for the development of semiconductor manufacturing facilities, which are crucial for AI technologies. The plan also emphasises the need for ramped-up energy generation capacity to support AI and manufacturing growth, highlighting the need to overcome current stagnation in U.S. energy infrastructure.
The Trump Administration has also taken steps to promote the use of Brownfield and Superfund sites for data center development and has revised NOAA's deep sea mining regulations to enable data center development.
Moreover, President Trump's initiatives have been designed to bolster the U.S. position as a leader in AI and technology by removing regulatory barriers and providing financial incentives for infrastructure development.
In April 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to advance AI education for America's youth, and in January 2025, he signed an order to reverse harmful Biden Administration AI policies and enhance America's global AI dominance.
The first-ever executive action taken by President Trump in 2019, an Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence, recognised the importance of AI for the economic and national security of the United States. The Trump Administration also established the first-ever national AI research institutes.
Overall, President Trump's executive orders and initiatives have been instrumental in accelerating data center infrastructure development and strengthening America's AI and manufacturing leadership.
The Executive Order on Data Center Permitting and Incentives, as part of President Trump's initiatives, aims to expedite AI data center development by streamlining environmental reviews and permitting processes, including projects under the FAST-41 framework, and providing financial support like loans, grants, and tax incentives.
The America's AI Action Plan, another significant initiative, emphasizes the development of necessary infrastructure for AI dominance, such as data centers, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and new energy sources, while ensuring that infrastructure is built without adversarial technology.
President Trump's initiatives also include promoting the use of Brownfield and Superfund sites for data center development, as well as revising regulations to advance AI education for America's youth and enhance the country's global AI dominance, notably by reversing harmful Biden Administration AI policies.
