President Trump to sign executive order on infrastructure projects

US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on Aug 4, 2017.
PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Tuesday (Aug 15) "establishing discipline and accountability in the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure projects," the White House said.

Trump, who is visiting his residence at Trump Tower in New York, will also participate in a discussion on infrastructure and give a statement on the subject at 3.45pm (3.45am Wednesday Singapore time).

The White House did not give additional details on the executive order.

Trump, who was a real estate developer before becoming president, made rebuilding the country's crumbling infrastructure a top campaign issue.

He has proposed leveraging US$200 billion (S$272 billion) in government spending into US$1 trillion of projects to privatise the air traffic control system, strengthen rural infrastructure and repair bridges, roads and waterways.

In June, Trump said one of the biggest obstacles to new infrastructure projects was "the painfully slow, costly and time-consuming process for getting permits and approvals to build."

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