AZL General Discussion, page-24591

You are losing money here in the US because you don’t realize that, for example, the Permitting Council is a substitute for the Tooth Fairy, for people who think that new bureaucracy is the best way to improve old bureaucracy.

The “Permitting Council” (which coordinates the FAST-41) program, is so important to the current administration that only four months after Trump’s inauguration, he got around a couple weeks ago to appointing its executive director.

FAST, of course, was enacted during the Obama Administration, so it’s really a holdover from the Deep State enemies of MAGA. But it’s fun to sort out the bedfellows. The new director, Emily Domenech, is the sister of Ben Domenech, who is married to Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator whom Trump called a loser for being shot down in Vietnam.

Ben and Emily’s father Douglas was an assistant secretary at Interior during the first Trump administration. He was investigated by the Interior Department's Inspector General, which concluded that in 2017 he had misused his office for personal gain by getting the EPA to hire his son-in-law. Investigators also said that Domenech had used his office to promote another family member's business.

"FAST-41 does not change any statutory or regulatory requirement, environmental law, regulation, review process, or public involvement procedure, and does not predetermine the outcome of any federal decision-making process."

Anyone can apply for FAST, but most companies that are eligible recognize it for what it is -- paperwork on top of paperwork. They don't come to you, they invite you to believe they have something to offer. The silence is deafening.

When dealing with the Trump Administration, after acknowledging that his approval rating is down to 45% or less, it's important to watch what they do and not what they say. BLM is in turmoil, with no director even nominated. (The last one was shamed out of Washington before her Senate hearing because she had criticized the January 6 Capitol rioters.) Staff are leaving, and not being replaced. Fortunately, Musk has also left, as the New York Times revealed what the people around him know about his drug use and domestic problems.