Energy, environment and natural resources

Executive Order 13766: Expediting Environmental Reviews and Approvals for High Priority Infrastructure Projects

President: Donald J. Trump

Directed faster federal environmental reviews for designated high-priority infrastructure projects; revoked in 2021.

Status: Revoked — by EO 13990 on January 20, 2021.

Is Executive Order 13766 still in effect? No. EO 13990 revoked it in 2021.

What does Executive Order 13766 do?

EO 13766 asked the Council on Environmental Quality to decide whether proposed infrastructure projects qualified as high priority and, for those selected, to work with agencies on expedited environmental reviews and approvals. It identified electric-grid, telecommunications, ports, airports, pipeline, bridge and highway projects as examples. It did not waive environmental statutes. EO 13990 expressly revoked it in 2021. EO 14148 revoked EO 13990 in 2025 but did not expressly reinstate EO 13766.

Administration position: Faster review was the administration’s stated aim; designation did not guarantee project approval or remove statutory duties.
SignedJanuary 24, 2017
Lead officeCouncil on Environmental Quality
Express revocationEO 13990, January 20, 2021

Before and after

Before the order

Federal infrastructure projects required applicable environmental review and permits.

After the order

CEQ was directed to identify high-priority projects and coordinate expedited review until the order was revoked.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
CEQ chairDetermine whether requested projects are high priorityWithin 30 days of request
CEQ and agenciesSet expedited procedures and deadlines for designated projectsConsistent with law
AgenciesProvide written explanation for missed deadlinesWhen required by the order

What happened next

EO 13766 signed.

EO 13990 expressly revoked EO 13766.

EO 14148 revoked EO 13990 without expressly restoring EO 13766.