Accelerating the Nation's Economic Recovery From the COVID-19 Emergency by Expediting Infrastructure Investments and Other Activities
Executive Order 13927, signed in June 2020, directs federal agencies to use emergency authorities and other legally permissible tools to accelerate the Nation’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 emergency by speeding up infrastructure investments and related activities. The order emphasizes streamlined decision-making and regulatory flexibility (including NEPA and ESA processes) to reduce delays in major transportation, civil works, and energy/natural resources projects on federal and non-federal lands where agencies have authority to act. It requires regular reporting to senior White House offices (OMB, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, CEQ) on which projects are being expedited and how their status is progressing. The overarching aim is to get Americans back to work quickly while still following applicable law and protecting health, safety, and the environment.
Key Points
- 1Expedited infrastructure investments and related actions: The Secretary of Transportation must use all relevant emergency and other authorities to speed work on highway and other infrastructure projects, with ongoing reporting on expedited projects to OMB, the White House economic policy office, and CEQ. Status updates are required at least every 30 days for the duration of the national emergency.
- 2Streamlined environmental and regulatory approaches (NEPA and ESA): The order directs agencies to use CEQ NEPA emergency regulations and ESA emergency consultation procedures to facilitate recovery projects. Heads of agencies must identify actions that may be eligible for emergency treatment, potential statutory NEPA exemptions, categorical exclusions, or rely on already completed analyses, and report these actions within 30 days, with ongoing status updates every 30 days thereafter.
- 3Expedited Army Corps of Engineers civil works and federal lands projects: The Army (Civil Works) and, separately, the Defense, Interior, and Agriculture Secretaries must expedite authorized civil works and projects on federal lands. They must provide initial summary reports within 30 days and then status reports every 30 days for the duration of the emergency.
- 4Emergency permitting and regulatory provisions across major statutes: The order directs use of emergency Army Corps permits, emergency Clean Water Act provisions, and other statutes that allow waivers, exemptions, or streamlined processes to speed infrastructure-related actions, again with initial reporting within 30 days and ongoing 30-day status updates.
- 5General provisions and oversight: Agencies must review other applicable statutes, regulations, and guidance that could provide emergency or expedited treatment, identify eligible actions, and report to the OMB, the White House economic policy office, and CEQ. The order emphasizes implementation consistent with law and appropriations, clarifies no creation of rights, and preserves existing statutory authorities.