America has always been a nation of builders. From the transcontinental railroad to the interstate highway system, we’ve conquered mountains and bridged rivers to connect our vast country. But somewhere along the way, we traded our hammers for gavels, and our blueprints gathered dust while judges played architect with the American dream.

For years, conservative leaders have watched in frustration as federal judges wielded their authority like a sledgehammer against infrastructure projects. While President Biden’s environmental initiatives sailed through the courts with barely a whisper of resistance, President Trump’s efforts to streamline development faced an endless parade of injunctions and delays. The pattern became so predictable it was almost comical—if it weren’t so damaging to American prosperity. (Funny how judicial “independence” always seemed to lean one direction, isn’t it?)

Consider the case of seven rural Utah counties that simply wanted to build an 88-mile railroad to connect their oil-rich region to the national rail network. These weren’t reckless cowboys ignoring environmental concerns. They dutifully compiled a 3,600-page environmental impact statement, held six public meetings, and collected over 1,900 public comments. The Surface Transportation Board approved their project in 2021 after exhaustive review. Yet before a single rail could be laid, environmental groups and Eagle County, Colorado, rushed to court, claiming the massive environmental study wasn’t comprehensive enough because it didn’t analyze the potential impacts of entirely separate oil drilling and refining operations that might theoretically increase someday.

This week, the Supreme Court finally said enough is enough. In an 8-0 decision that should send shockwaves through the activist legal community, the justices ruled that courts have been grossly overstepping their authority in blocking infrastructure projects. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the Court, delivered a masterclass in judicial restraint that deserves to be framed in every federal courthouse: