Former US economic and national security officials are urging Congress to accelerate energy infrastructure approvals, arguing that prolonged permitting delays weaken American industrial competitiveness against China, OilPrice.com reported. The group, drawn from six presidential administrations, says the country’s advantages in finance, technology and natural resources cannot compensate for its difficulty turning investment into completed projects.
The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 was introduced in the Senate at the end of September. According to OilPrice.com, debate is expected after the mid-term elections, when Congress reconvenes on 9 November. Its proposals include strengthening statutory deadlines for important reviews, revising environmental rules and making data centres cover the cost of new transmission infrastructure constructed to supply them.
In a letter to congressional leaders on Tuesday, the former officials argued that lengthy construction and planning schedules threaten economic growth and national security. Signatories include Mike Pompeo, formerly secretary of state and CIA director under President Trump, and Janet Yellen, formerly Treasury secretary under President Biden. Their argument centres on the risk that factories cannot reach markets promptly when the infrastructure needed to power them takes five, ten or fifteen years to deliver.
The letter contrasts those delays with China’s emphasis on energy networks as part of its industrial strategy. OilPrice.com reported the officials’ claim that China has installed more high-voltage transmission over the past 15 years than the United States has throughout its history. Citing National Science Foundation data, they also put China’s share of global knowledge- and technology-intensive manufacturing value added in 2024 at 31.5%, against 20.7% for the US.
The American Petroleum Institute has asked lawmakers to bring the measure to the floor in November, arguing that reform would support investment, help reduce costs and meet growing energy demand. BP also wants legislation passed this year; chief executive Meg O’Neill said greater certainty would support infrastructure development and domestic energy security. Opponents, however, argue that the bill would weaken environmental permitting protections while facilitating a large expansion of hyperscale AI data centres and the fossil fuel infrastructure serving them.