Having a Lead Federal Agency (FAA's role here) during permitting is a very common and positive thing. It helps avoid the left hand not talking to the right hand

Having a Lead Federal Agency (FAA's role here) during permitting is a very common and positive thing. It helps avoid the left hand not talking to the right hand when permits from multiple agencies are required for a single activity. If they were separate SpaceX couldn't just ignore the lack of EPA permit and launch anyway just because they have an FAA permit, and by having them coordinated it decreases run-around from different agencies giving conflicting demands. SpaceX would likely face more delays not fewer if the FAA wasn't acting as a Lead Federal Agency here. https://www.achp.gov/digital-library-section-106-landing/frequently-asked-questions-about-lead-federal-agencies https://www.achp.gov/digital-library-section-106-landing/fre... https://www.epa.gov/nepa/what-national-environmental-policy-act https://www.epa.gov/nepa/what-national-environmental-policy-...