Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 introduced

The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, aiming to reform federal permitting processes to encourage energy and infrastructure investment. The American Council for Competitiveness (ACCF) has endorsed the legislation, arguing that current permitting delays and the risk of project revocation create a political risk premium that increases costs for manufacturers and households. The bill proposes enforceable review deadlines, a 150-day window for judicial challenges, and provisions to limit the reversal of approved projects.

Critics, including legal scholars from Stanford Law School, argue the legislation represents a heavy-handed attempt to rewrite foundational environmental laws. The bill proposes significant amendments to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. Opponents suggest these changes could restrain community voices and dismantle decades of legal precedent in the pursuit of permit reform.