Federal officials are negotiating the approval of stalled renewable energy projects in exchange for legislative changes to the energy sector's authorization process. Trump told top aides he would direct the Department of Defense to begin clearing its queue of long-delayed onshore wind projects to secure the support of Democrats for a permitting overhaul, according to a top Senate negotiator.

The proposal marks a shift from previous administration policies that blocked wind developments. Some Democrats have responded that any permanent bipartite agreement must include statutory limits on the ability of the executive branch to interfere with the permitting process to ensure approvals are not reversed by future administrations.