Opinion

America’s broken permitting system is quietly raising your cost of living

Congress has an opportunity to modernize the permitting system while preserving core environmental protections

By Pat Toomey Fox News

Published August 17, 2026 5:00am EDT

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Permitting reform isn't simply an energy issue or an environmental issue. It is an affordability issue.

The economics are straightforward. In a market economy, prices are determined by supply and demand. When the supply of housing, energy or manufactured goods increases, prices tend to fall. When supply is constrained, prices rise. If policymakers are serious about lowering costs for American families, they should focus on making it easier — not harder — to increase supply.

That begins with fixing America's broken permitting system.

THE SURPRISING HIDDEN COST QUIETLY ADDING NEARLY $132K TO NEW HOME PRICES REVEALED

America does not suffer from a shortage of entrepreneurs willing to invest, workers eager to build or capital ready to finance new projects. But the permitting system fails to produce timely, predictable government decisions.

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Today, major housing developments, energy infrastructure and even manufacturing facilities routinely spend years navigating overlapping federal reviews, duplicative agency requirements and prolonged........

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