Zach Freimark, Executive Director of the America First Policy Institute's (AFPI) Minnesota chapter, released the following statement after Vice President J.D. Vance referred Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation into fraud in the state's federally funded social services programs
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) today released an issue brief, “Building Energy Dominance: A Near-Term Permitting Agenda.” The brief details how slow, costly government permitting holds back American building, and lays out four practical fixes—making routine projects easier to approve, holding agencies to firm deadlines, reining in lawsuits that drag projects out for years, and letting states handle more of the review—to help the country build energy and infrastructure faster without giving up real environmental protections.
529 education savings plans are tax-advantaged accounts that help families save for education expenses. Established under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, these plans were originally designed to support postsecondary education costs but have since been expanded by Congress to include K-12 tuition, apprenticeship programs, and other qualified educational expenses. As the permissible uses of 529 plans have broadened, they have become increasingly important vehicles for education freedom.
529 education savings plans, also known as qualified tuition plans, are tax-advantaged accounts in which families invest after-tax dollars in mutual funds, index funds, and age-based portfolios offered by plan administrators under contract with state governments. Earnings grow free from federal income tax, and withdrawals remain tax-free when used for qualified education expenses.
America is failing to build and maintain the infrastructure required for national defense, industrial revival, and the artificial intelligence revolution. The stakes are high because these priorities depend on the affordable, reliable energy that powers every industry, from advanced warfighting aircraft and cutting-edge chips for AI compute to mineral extraction and processing at home. Chief among the barriers is a federal permitting system that limits the growth of the national infrastructure needed to strengthen America’s economy, security, and technological leadership.