The White House has endorsed a permitting reform bill designed to speed up federal approvals for energy and infrastructure projects, a move that could reshape how major construction and energy developments move through the regulatory pipeline. The backing gives the legislation a powerful boost as it heads into a contentious debate over how much the federal government should be able to streamline environmental reviews and permitting decisions. Supporters argue the current system is a maze of overlapping reviews and bureaucratic delays that can stall projects for years, driving up costs and pushing investment elsewhere. They say a faster, more predictable process is essential to building out energy infrastructure and keeping the country competitive. Critics counter that faster approvals risk cutting corners on environmental safeguards and limiting public input. The White House's involvement signals the administration intends to make permitting reform a priority, putting its political capital behind a measure that could affect a wide range of projects, from pipelines and power plants to transmission lines and roads. Details of the bill and its path through Congress were not immediately clear.