President Donald Trump has made restoring affordability a national priority, and early signs show that approach is working. In the housing market, mortgage rates are easing, affordability is improving, and buyers are beginning to reenter the market after years of strain.
But in states like New Mexico, affordability gains will only last if we can build enough homes and the infrastructure that supports them.
Efforts to address local housing challenges can be alleviated or hindered by federal policies. Today, New Mexico is short more than 90,000 homes, and nearly half of renters struggle to afford their monthly payments, and homelessness is rising as prices continue to climb.
Local zoning rules, construction costs, and workforce shortages all contribute to this crisis, while lengthy federal permitting reviews and endless litigation delay the infrastructure and energy projects that housing depends on, such as water systems, transmission lines, and power generation. With cities like Los Lunas and Sunland Park growing rapidly, the infrastructure must keep pace.
Reforming outdated federal laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is not just about pipelines or power plants. It’s about giving states like New Mexico a fair shot at building the infrastructure our growing community and workforce needs.
Permitting laws like the National Environmental Policy Act were created with a clear purpose: to ensure that federal agencies understand environmental impacts before approving major projects.
Environmental reviews now stretch for years, documents run hundreds of pages, and approvals are routinely tied up in court long after agencies have done their job. The result is a system that discourages investment and punishes communities that are trying to plan responsibly.
Impact statements average nearly 600 pages. Transmission and clean energy projects take an average of over 4 years to reach a decision. The system is no longer working.
America must build faster, invest more at home, and secure its energy future. Endless reviews and years-long delays run directly counter to those goals.
Just last year, President Trump encouraged federal agencies to make full use of modern technology to accelerate environmental reviews and permit evaluations. He has made clear that major investments in the United States should not be held up by slow bureaucratic processes.
Congress has started to follow that lead. Provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill reflect a growing recognition that time matters. Developers can now opt into firm deadlines for environmental reviews. Certain energy projects, including liquefied natural gas facilities and oil and gas development on federal lands, are eligible for expedited review.
The direction is clear; Congress and the administration are working to modernize permitting. Federal agencies should follow suit.
The SunZia Wind and Transmission project, one of the largest renewable energy developments in the Western Hemisphere, is Exhibit A. Spanning multiple counties and paired with a major transmission line, the project will deliver power to countless homes, strengthen grid reliability, and support thousands of jobs.
There are currently 30 solar projects in development. Geothermal and wind projects are underway. And in September of last year, Pacific Fusion selected New Mexico as the site of its first research and manufacturing campus, a $1 billion investment aimed at advancing fusion energy. These decisions reflect a state wanting to welcome major projects, support innovation, and put real resources behind economic growth.
Federal permitting should spur that momentum. When states are prepared to move forward, attract investment, and deliver projects that benefit their communities, they look to federal agencies to provide clarity. Federal permitting should be aligned with that mission rather than holding it back.