Permitting Council Announces Agreement with the State of Iowa to Streamline Permitting

WASHINGTON (August 6, 2026) – Today, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced the latest state-wide MOU to coordinate and streamline federal and state permitting. Executive Director Emily Domenech signed a formal MOU with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, committing the state to opt in to the FAST-41 process and align timelines for state and federal environmental reviews. This is the 8th federal-state MOU signed by the Permitting Council during the Trump Administration, the first administration to use the Permitting Council’s statutorily defined ability to enter into state-wide agreements to advance infrastructure critical to economic growth and national security. 

“I am excited to partner with Governor Reynolds and the state of Iowa on our latest federal-state MOU,” said Emily Domenech, Permitting Council Executive Director. “Building the infrastructure our nation needs requires federal and state permitting processes that move together on the same timelines. This agreement will create greater predictability, reduce unnecessary delays and help deliver the vital infrastructure projects Americans and Iowans depend on.”

“Iowa has a proud history of innovation, productivity and government efficiency, delivering measurable improvements by reducing red tape, modernizing processes, and strengthening coordination across agencies. Working closely with the Permitting Council will build on that record, ensuring timely, transparent permitting decisions that support essential infrastructure and strategic projects that strengthen our economy and quality of life,” said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. “We value our collaborative relationship with the Trump Administration and its commitment to reducing administrative and regulatory hurdles that slow progress.”

The MOU establishes commitments by the state of Iowa and the Permitting Council to align state and federal permitting timelines and to help identify projects for FAST-41 eligibility. The agreement also requires that state permitting actions are added to the Federal Permitting Dashboard alongside the federal permits, providing a first-of-its-kind level of coordination and transparency between the federal and state governments. By aligning state permitting timelines with federal timelines, this MOU will ensure that critical infrastructure projects avoid unnecessary roadblocks after completion of the federal environmental review process.

As part of the agreement, the Permitting Council will provide federal permitting support to projects identified in the state of Iowa, ensuring focused technical assistance, transparency, accountability and predictability in the permitting process. The Permitting Council will provide a wide variety of support, including: 

• Assisting the state of Iowa in identifying eligible FAST-41 projects;

• Engaging with the state to identify and support gaps in federal knowledge and provide opportunities to share state expertise;

• Convening meetings with appropriate state and federal agencies to ensure streamlined and coordinated review and to avoid duplicative efforts; and

• Exploring opportunities to improve state permitting processes, to include providing funding and access to technology designed to streamline permit applications.

This is the 8th federal-state MOUs signed by the Permitting Council. Agreements were previously signed with the states of Alaska, Idaho, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, Georgia and Louisiana.