The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the SPEED Act, a major permitting reform bill designed to accelerate the construction of infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence development across the country. The legislation narrowly cleared the House in a 218-213 vote after facing resistance from some conservative lawmakers during procedural negotiations. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to become part of a broader debate over federal permitting reform.
Supporters of the SPEED Act argue that the United States must rapidly expand its energy and technology infrastructure to remain competitive with global rivals such as China in the race for AI dominance. Backers include leading technology companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Micron Technology.
The legislation would reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 1969 law requiring federal environmental reviews for major projects. Under the proposal, the statute of limitations for NEPA-related lawsuits would shrink from six years to just 150 days, while review deadlines would also be tightened in an effort to reduce delays for energy, data center, and infrastructure projects.
Republican lawmakers say the growing power demands of AI systems and data centers require urgent action to strengthen America’s electric grid and computing capacity. Democratic support for the bill was divided, however, after GOP leaders added provisions tied to President Donald Trump’s renewable energy policies, prompting criticism from several Democrats who otherwise support permitting reform.
The debate comes as the Trump administration launches the “U.S. Tech Force,” a new federal initiative that will recruit engineers and technology experts to help expand AI infrastructure and coordinate with major private-sector partners across the technology industry.
