Military Readiness Permitting Efficiency Act of 2026

This bill aims to streamline the environmental review process for critical Department of Defense (DoD) programs and projects. It authorizes the Secretary of Defense or a military department Secretary to establish **interagency agreements** with the Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under these agreements, the DoD can provide **direct financial assistance** to these agencies specifically for hiring personnel to execute designated priority reviews.

Such agreements are contingent upon the Secretary determining that completing a review within a specific timeframe is in the **national defense interest**. Additionally, the relevant environmental agency must notify the Secretary that it lacks sufficient funds or personnel to conduct the review within that period without the requested assistance. The bill specifies that these expedited reviews apply to processes under laws such as:

• The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
• The Endangered Species Act of 1973
• The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

The legislation also defines **eligible expenses** for these review processes, which can include support for military planning activities, direct review activities, and the development of programmatic agreements. A **review process** is broadly defined to encompass assessing potential environmental impacts and ensuring compliance with legal requirements, including consultations, permits, or approvals.