Environmental Protection Rollbacks and Climate Policy Reversal

Trump promised to "take back" the Panama Canal in his inaugural speech as part of his broader foreign policy vision. Trump also signed an order on his first day to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement for the second time.

Trump signed executive orders rolling back environmental and climate protections, including withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement again, revoking Biden's 50% electric vehicle target for 2030, declaring an energy emergency to boost fossil fuel drilling, and overturning emissions standards.

Trump administration climate policies have included provisions addressing consumer products like showerheads, toilets, and windmills, driven by the president's stated fixations on these items.

Trump announced a halt to New York's congestion pricing program, a three-week-old environmental initiative approved by the Biden administration designed to reduce vehicle emissions in the city. The administration is reportedly considering reversing the policy.

Trump ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take down government websites referencing the climate crisis. The Forest Service website and other federal agency pages were affected as agencies scrambled to comply with the directive.

Trump is moving to refocus U.S. climate policy on fossil fuels and away from renewable energy priorities. Pacific island leaders have raised alarm about the direct impact of Trump's climate retreat and aid freeze on their countries' survival.

Trump administration is targeting wind and solar energy through executive actions while benefiting fossil fuel interests, marking a sharp reversal from Biden-era clean energy investments that had created jobs.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Chris Wright, a fracking executive and climate skeptic, as Trump's energy secretary in a 59-38 vote, despite controversies over his climate change views.

Trump's interior department issues a directive that conservation groups say would allow Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to redraw the boundaries of protected national monuments to boost fossil fuel extraction. Environmental groups express concerns about reduced protections for public lands.

The Bezos Earth Fund, part of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's $10 billion charitable initiative, halts funding for the Science Based Targets initiative, which monitors corporate decarbonization efforts. The move raises concerns about billionaires accommodating to Trump's policies on climate and environmental issues.

Trump administration suspended the $5 billion electric vehicle charging program, ordering states to cease spending allocated funds under Biden's fast-charging station initiative. The move contradicts the administration's earlier stance, as Elon Musk had previously championed climate initiatives before backing Trump's anti-EV policies.

Trump stated he will sign an executive order next week to reverse Biden's plan to phase out plastic straws across the U.S. government.

The Trump administration froze billions of dollars in clean energy funding initiated by the Biden administration on its first day, causing concerns in Republican states where solar energy projects had gained significant traction. The freeze is prompting panic among developers and project managers.

Climate advocacy groups including the Sierra Club and Greenpeace filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration, marking the first environmental legal battles of his second term focused on his drilling orders.

Trump administration withdraws federal funding from domestic and overseas research that mentions 'climate,' prompting outcry from the scientific community over impacts to public health and safety.

U.S. officials were absent from global climate forums during Trump's second administration, amid concerns the U.S. is ignoring international climate ramifications of its policies.

Hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received notification that their jobs would be cut off at the end of the day in a climate agency downsizing.

The Trump administration dismissed hundreds of employees from NOAA, the U.S. climate agency. Democrats warned that these job cuts "will cost American lives" and harm weather forecasting and hurricane prediction capabilities.

President Trump moved to increase logging in national forests by circumventing environmental regulations, a proposal supported by homebuilders and the construction industry.

President Trump has begun dismantling U.S. climate policy through fund withholding and executive actions, with administration officials describing efforts as a "full-on fight" against environmental regulations.

Trump issued an executive order to expand timber cutting across approximately 280 million acres of US forests. The move bypasses existing rules designed to protect endangered species.

Fired federal scientists warned that Trump's workforce reductions pose an extinction threat to endangered species, citing concerns about protection of beetles, spiders, and other vulnerable species.

The National Weather Service has lost approximately 10 percent of its staff due to Trump administration layoffs, with reductions hitting offices in areas prone to severe weather particularly hard.

Trump administration announced it will drop a Biden-era lawsuit against a DuPont chemical plant in Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' that was seeking to curb emissions of the carcinogen chloroprene.

Trump administration officials announced moves to dismantle climate protections, with the EPA targeting 'almost every major pollution rule' and considering eliminating key greenhouse gas findings, according to environmental advocates.

NASA dropped its plan to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon, a promise that was central to the space agency's Artemis program scheduled to return humans to the lunar surface in 2027.

The EPA established a direct email line allowing fossil fuel companies to request exemptions from air pollution rules. The move provides regulated industries with a streamlined process to seek relief from environmental regulations.

More than 30 nations have publicly criticized a Trump administration proposal that could allow seabed mining to begin by 2027, drawing global diplomatic rebuke over environmental and economic concerns.

Trump administration officials moved to reverse bans on toxic 'forever chemicals' (PFAS), with the EPA seeking to change chemical risk evaluations that could expose the public to higher levels of pollutants.

Trump signed executive orders to allow coal-fired power plants to remain open, citing demand from data centers, AI, and electric vehicles. Environmentalists opposed the move as a step backward.

Trump issued an executive order targeting state and local climate laws, directing the Justice Department to cease enforcement of critical policies that hold fossil fuel companies accountable. The order represents a significant rollback of environmental protections at multiple government levels.

The Trump administration cut $4 million in climate research funding to Princeton University, claiming the university's work exposed students to 'climate anxiety' and 'exaggerated climate threats.'

Documents reveal Trump's budget plan would significantly cut funding for NASA and climate science, with critics warning NASA faces an 'extinction-level event' and climate research funding will be slashed.

Environmental groups sued the Trump administration over the removal of federal webpages tracking climate and environmental justice data. The removal came as part of the administration's efforts to reverse climate policies.

Conservationists filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its rollback of green policies, specifically targeting a day-one executive order to "unleash American energy" by boosting the oil industry.

The Trump administration moved to narrow protections for endangered species through new proposals from US wildlife agencies, with environmentalists warning the changes could lead to habitat destruction and extinction.

Earth Day protests saw Americans mobilize against Trump policies, with organizers teaming up with pro-democracy groups to demand rights to free, healthy lives. The demonstrations reflected broader concerns about environmental and social impacts of administration policies.

A report by the American Lung Association found that nearly half of Americans—approximately 156 million people—are breathing in unsafe levels of air pollutants including soot and smog. Trump administration officials at NOAA have reportedly set the agency on a 'non-science trajectory' with drastic cuts.

Trump signed an order to loosen fishing regulations in federally protected areas of the Pacific Ocean. Conservation experts warn the proclamation poses major risks to marine ecosystems.

Trump dismissed contributors to a major federal report on climate crisis preparedness mandated by Congress that is used by federal and local governments to prepare for climate disasters.

Major automakers including Aston Martin, Stellantis, and Mercedes have limited exports or withdrawn financial guidance due to Trump tariffs. Equinor, Norway's state energy company, is considering legal action after the administration halted its $2.5 billion U.S. offshore windfarm project.

Trump signed 141 executive orders during his first 100 days in office, with actions targeting environmental protections, federal unions, and other areas. An executive order stripped bargaining rights from more than 1 million federal workers on national security grounds.

Environmental groups report that Trump has launched more attacks on environmental protections in his first 100 days than during his entire first term, affecting land, ocean, forest, and wildlife protections while accelerating climate change impacts.

Trump proposed cutting $163 billion in non-defense federal funding while proposing a 13% increase to military spending to over $1 trillion in a 'skinny budget' that targets education, health, and climate programs.

Trump administration has directed federal agencies to stop estimating the economic impact of climate change when developing policies and regulations, effectively assigning zero cost to pollution in policy analysis.

The Trump administration allowed work to continue on a $5 billion New York wind farm project after Governor Hochul lobbied the president, though a new gas pipeline capacity will be allowed to move forward as part of the agreement.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted to reverse an EPA waiver that allowed California to set its own vehicle emissions rules, sparking criticism from Governor Newsom who issued a rallying cry in response to what Democrats called a 'nuclear' move.

Trump signed executive orders to spur a 'nuclear energy renaissance' aimed at constructing new nuclear reactors as part of his energy policy agenda, reversing Biden administration policies on nuclear power.

Young people aged seven to 25 filed a lawsuit alleging that Trump's anti-environment executive orders violate their right to life and constitute unlawful executive overreach.

The Trump administration announced plans to open millions of acres in Alaska to drilling and mining, reversing Biden-era protections. Interior Department officials stated they will repeal protections across the state's ecologically sensitive North Slope, including the 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Trump's EPA announced major rollbacks to power plant pollution limits, with more than 200 health experts warning the regulatory proposals will lead to the biggest increase in pollution in decades. Additionally, Climate.gov, a major US climate website supporting public education on climate science, is set to be shut down after nearly all staff were fired.

Trump signed a measure blocking California's ban on new sales of gas-powered cars and its rules for greener vehicles, citing federal authority over automotive standards. California officials said they intend to challenge the move in court and find alternative ways to advance electric vehicle adoption.

The Trump administration proposed weakening EPA restrictions on pollution, which critics argue will benefit a small group of plant owners while forcing Americans to breathe dirtier air and harming public health. The rollback is part of a broader pattern of environmental deregulation.

Trump pulled the U.S. from a Biden-led deal to recover Pacific Northwest salmon populations, calling the agreement 'radical.' Environmental groups said the president was 'grievously wrong' in withdrawing from the plan.

Trump fired a Nuclear Safety Board member who had led the agency under Biden, following the president's signing of executive orders aimed at cutting safety regulations for nuclear power plants.

The White House moved to keep two Michigan coal plants operating, despite one producing more arsenic pollution than any other facility in the U.S. and the other having been slated for closure since 2021. The action prioritizes coal production over environmental concerns.

The Supreme Court voted to uphold a challenge to California's ability to set stricter vehicle emission standards than federal limits. The ruling potentially weakens California's environmental regulatory authority.

The Supreme Court ruled that fossil fuel companies can challenge California's emissions law, while the Trump White House moved to keep Michigan coal plants open. These actions represent setbacks for environmental regulation on multiple fronts.

New York announced plans to build its first major new nuclear power plant in over 15 years, with the governor calling it 'a critical energy initiative,' though renewable energy groups have criticized the decision.

The Trump administration is rescinding protections on approximately 59 million acres of national forest land, scrapping the Clinton-era 'roadless rule' to allow logging in areas including the country's largest old growth forest.

A judge blocked Trump administration officials from withholding $5 billion in EV charging infrastructure funds that were awarded to 14 states under Biden's national EV infrastructure scheme. Trump officials had ordered states not to spend the allocated funds.

The Trump administration delayed a plan to cut satellite data access that scientists say is crucial to hurricane forecasting. Experts warned that loss of data access to NOAA and NASA could set hurricane forecasting back decades.

Trump announced the creation of the 'Make America Beautiful Again' commission through an executive order to review protected public lands, with the panel to be led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

The Trump administration deleted an online portal containing a key climate report; The Guardian published the legally mandated National Climate Assessment in full. The administration also announced moves that could further restrict renewable energy expansion.

Trump's inaugural fund received $19 million from the fossil fuel industry. The president raised $239 million total for his inauguration, more than the previous three inaugural committees combined.

The Trump administration is gutting weather science and reducing disaster response capabilities as FEMA faces potential restructuring. Experts warn that as extreme weather increases due to climate change, the government is dismantling critical disaster preparedness infrastructure.

Trump officials addressed conspiracy theories about 'chemtrails' while spreading misinformation, according to experts. The EPA's move comes as the agency slashes funding for climate research and cuts staff for weather forecasting and scientific agencies.

Trump unveiled a $70 billion AI and energy plan at a Pittsburgh summit with oil and tech executives, linking AI expansion to oil and gas development while sidelining renewable energy. The administration announced $90 billion in AI infrastructure investments as part of its priority to win the artificial intelligence race with China.

The Trump administration indefinitely halted a $1.6 billion Biden-era plan for a gas-powered blast furnace at a steel mill in Middletown, Ohio, Vice President JD Vance's hometown. The administration also yanked $15 million in research funding into PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination on US farms.

The Trump EPA eliminated its research and development office and began layoffs affecting thousands of agency jobs. A union warned that the administration's move will be devastating for U.S. public health.

Critics warn that Trump's fossil fuel expansion policy is setting back green progress by decades, with experts arguing the administration is using an 'invented' national energy crisis to justify expansion of coal, oil and gas.

US scientists report that Trump's funding cuts have led to unprecedented reductions in research support and staff layoffs, particularly affecting climate science programs.

A carbon dioxide pipeline leak in Satartia, Mississippi has created public safety concerns, with local residents describing the aftermath as 'like a zombie apocalypse,' raising fears about potential ruptures amid Trump administration cuts to pipeline safety oversight.

Trump's administration moved to rescind an EPA 'endangerment finding' on greenhouse gases; climate experts warned the action ignores scientific consensus and will lead to more extreme weather in the US.

Mining company Fortescue cancelled two green hydrogen projects citing lack of certainty and the Trump administration's shift away from renewable energy commitments.

The EPA moved to rescind the 'endangerment finding' that underpins pollution regulations as part of Trump's 'drill, baby, drill' agenda. Critics say the move poses a grave threat to environmental protections.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that it would revoke its own ability to fight climate change, marking an extraordinary pivot away from science-based environmental protections under Trump's administration.

The White House moved to open the Arctic National Petroleum Reserve to oil and gas drilling, with the Bureau of Land Management working to rapidly strip protections from the largest tract of land in the US, drawing outcry from environmental advocates.

A federal judge in Hawaii ruled that commercial fishing is illegal in the Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument, overriding the Trump administration's rollback of the protection. The court decision blocks commercial fishing operations in the protected area.

Danish wind energy company Ørsted blamed Trump's policies for derailing its business model, announcing a $9 billion cash call as its share price sank to an all-time low due to uncertainty created by U.S. energy and trade policies.

Trump ordered the relaxation of environmental review rules for rocket launches, potentially benefiting companies including SpaceX and Blue Origin. Environmental experts warn the move could result in environmental damage to wildlife, air, and water.

Trump's tariffs and green energy rollbacks have pushed household electricity bills up 10 percent. The US energy secretary noted that energy prices could hurt Republicans in midterms but blamed Democrats for increases.

Connecticut and Rhode Island officials vowed to fight a Trump administration order to halt work on an offshore wind farm project nearly complete and slated to power 350,000 homes. The states say the project is essential to their climate goals.

Australia Post and European postal services suspended parcel deliveries to the United States amid uncertainty over Trump's new import tariff scheme, citing an extremely limited timeframe to prepare.

Trump halted work on Ørsted's $1.5 billion offshore windfarm project off Rhode Island that was 80% complete, causing the company's stock to drop by 17% to an all-time low.

Scientists have revived Climate.gov, which went dark under the Trump administration, as a new volunteer-run website called Climate.us with an expanded mission to provide climate information to the public.

More than 85 top climate specialists lambasted the Trump administration's climate review as a 'shoddy mess' that downplays climate risks, saying it 'makes a mockery of science.'

Rhode Island and Connecticut sued the Trump administration for illegally halting the Revolution Wind offshore wind farm project, claiming it threatened jobs, clean energy investments worth billions, and violated state rights.

A federal report found that US greenhouse gas emissions increased significantly, with an abrupt shift in policy since Trump took office predicted to have major consequences for the climate crisis.

Trump's Department of Justice is seeking to invalidate Vermont's 'superfund' law that requires major polluters to pay for carbon emissions. The law mandates that the largest oil producers cover costs of climate damage, marking a major legal challenge to state climate policy.

President Trump delivered a combative speech at the 80th UN General Assembly, attacking European countries on migration, climate policies, and Russian energy purchases. He called European nations 'going to hell' and urged countries to close borders and expel foreigners, accusing them of 'destroying your heritage.'

Trump's energy secretary announced plans to return billions of dollars set aside for green energy projects, attacking the Biden administration's 'Green New Deal' agenda. The move is part of the administration's broader rollback of climate-related initiatives.

Trump announced attacks on the US wind energy industry, targeting nine offshore wind projects. The crackdown threatens thousands of jobs and could impact the power supply for nearly 5 million homes.

The Trump administration is allocating $625 million and opening 13.1 million acres of federal land to coal mining, aiming to revive an industry that has been in rapid decline over the past 30 years. The initiative eliminates pollution limits on mining operations.

The Energy Department cracked down on workers' use of climate-related language, with efficiency employees reportedly told to avoid terms such as 'climate change' in their work. The move is part of the administration's broader effort to reshape environmental policy.

Border wall construction began in Arizona's San Rafael Valley wildlife corridor, with officials warning the 30-foot barrier could negatively impact wildlife migration and water use in one of the last unbroken grasslands in the American West.

Over 80% of Ohio's Wayne National Forest has been classified as suitable for logging under Trump administration policies, raising concerns from local residents about the potential elimination of the state's only national forest.

Trump plotted to eliminate Bill Clinton's 'roadless rule' protecting old-growth forests, a move expected to significantly expand logging and road construction on federal lands. Environmental critics argue the policy reversal will be devastating to forest ecosystems.

Ørsted, one of the world's biggest windfarm developers, announced plans to cut a quarter of its workforce after the Trump administration caused its share price to plunge to an all-time low. The layoffs reflect the impact of Trump administration policies on the renewable energy sector.

Trump officials cancelled a major solar energy project in Nevada called Esmeralda 7, which was designed to produce enough electricity to power 2 million homes, marking the latest action against renewable energy projects by the administration.

The U.S. Senate appeared poised to approve an industry lobbyist, Douglas Troutman, to lead chemical safety at the EPA. If confirmed, the top four toxics office positions at the agency would be held by former industry lobbyists.

The Trump EPA is seeking to weaken scrutiny for some of the U.S.'s most toxic chemicals by shortening review times and altering the methodology used to assess their dangers. The new rule would expedite the chemical review process.

The Trump administration approved increased oil and gas drilling in Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge and Arctic lands, including lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve and permitting for a road through Gates of the Arctic park.

No high-level U.S. representatives will attend the COP30 UN climate talks in Brazil, according to Trump administration officials. The decision underscores the administration's hostility to climate action.

U.S. electricity bills increased by 11% during Trump's second term, according to new data analysis. Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Trump stating his administration has no answers for families facing high energy costs.

Trump's EPA officials are set to approve a fifth PFAS 'forever chemical' as a pesticide ingredient this year, raising concerns among environmental groups about risks to food and water supplies.

The Trump administration announced plans to allow six lease sales for oil and gas drilling off the California coast from 2027 to 2030, despite California Governor Gavin Newsom's vow the proposal would be 'dead on arrival.' This move was announced as Newsom headed an alternate U.S. delegation to the COP30 climate talks in the absence of the Trump administration.

At COP30 in Brazil, Tuvalu's minister directly criticized Trump's climate policies, calling them 'shameful disregard' for action on climate change. The South Pacific island nation, facing potential extinction from rising sea levels, was one of few delegates to publicly rebuke the Trump administration's climate stance.

The Trump administration announced plans to open more than a billion acres of U.S. waters to offshore oil and gas drilling off the coasts of California and Florida, with potential drilling sites including areas near popular Florida beaches.

Trump administration officials revealed plans to roll back regulations under the Endangered Species Act. Environmental experts warned that the plan could accelerate species extinctions and is part of broader efforts by Trump to dismantle wildlife protections.

A Trump administration order to keep Michigan's JH Campbell coal-fired power plant open is costing taxpayers $113 million, with critics noting the plant emits high levels of toxic pollution.

Trump administration policies reversed billions of dollars in federal funding earmarked by the Biden administration for clean energy projects in former coal communities in Appalachia, disappointing locals who had begun a clean-energy revival.

The Trump administration rolled back Biden-era fuel economy standards for vehicles, with Trump calling the previous regulations a "scam." The move marks an effort to dismantle pollution regulations and reverse policies promoting electric vehicle adoption.

A feud is growing between Trump's EPA under Lee Zeldin and 'Make America Healthy Again' advocates over the rollback of rules on toxic chemicals, with critics calling for Zeldin's resignation.

A federal judge ruled that Trump's halt on wind energy permits for federal lands and waters was illegal and 'capricious,' blocking the president's order to stop all wind farm permits.

The Trump administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, a premier climate research facility. White House Budget Director Russell Vought characterized the laboratory as a source of "climate alarmism," while Colorado Governor Jared Polis warned that dismantling NCAR would put "public safety at risk."

Trump's EPA proposed weakening formaldehyde protections by undoing Biden-era policies on exposure to the carcinogenic toxin, continuing the administration's push to weaken environmental and health standards.

Trump administration halted five offshore wind-farm projects under construction, with the Interior Department citing national security risks without providing detailed justification, marking the latest blow to the renewable energy industry.

The Department of Energy ordered two coal-burning power plants to remain open, and the Environmental Protection Agency extended deadlines for utilities to address toxic coal ash, providing support to the struggling coal industry.

The Trump administration exempted a copper smelter in Arizona from federal air-quality rules, with emails showing that an EPA official guided the company seeking the exemption. The smelter is cited as a top source of lead pollution in the region.

Offshore wind developers, including those behind Revolution Wind off Rhode Island and Empire Wind off New York, filed lawsuits challenging Trump's administration order to freeze windfarm lease work on national security grounds.

Trump officials filed lawsuits against California cities Petaluma and Morgan Hill over laws restricting fossil fuel use, continuing the administration's attack on state environmental policies.

Trump withdrew the United States from the UN Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC) and ordered withdrawal from 66 international organizations. Experts decried the move to leave the UNFCCC as 'embarrassing.'

The Trump administration has repeatedly ordered work to stop on offshore wind farms along the East Coast, with at least two projects pushed to the brink of collapse and billions of dollars at stake.

Trump issued a memo stating the U.S. 'shall withdraw' from the UN's UNFCCC climate agreement, marking the first time any country has attempted to exit the agreement. Climate experts warned the move may be illegal.

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's cuts to energy projects worth $7.5 billion in Biden-era funding, largely targeting Democratic-led states, were unlawful. The cancellations occurred during the previous year's government shutdown.

Trump administration officials indicated plans to halt scheduled coal plant shutdowns, though aging plants are breaking down and costs could run to the billions. The effort faces significant practical and financial challenges.

Trump exercised his first veto of the second term to kill legislation that would have brought clean water to conservative parts of Colorado. Residents expressed bewilderment at the veto of a measure that would have benefited their communities.

Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris climate agreement for a second time, with experts monitoring how other countries and the broader economy will respond to the decision. The move was characterized by observers as an "abdication" of international climate responsibility.

Trump's EPA has been accused by critics of prioritizing big business over public health as it rolls back dozens of environmental protections one year into his second term. Meanwhile, Australian charities report that Trump's foreign aid freeze from a year ago has resulted in preventable deaths, with education, food, and health programs cut.

Trump plans to repeal an Obama-era 2009 finding that determined CO2 and other greenhouse gases harm health, a foundational element of U.S. climate regulations. Climate groups have vowed to challenge the rollback.

Trump ordered the Pentagon to buy more coal-fired electricity as part of efforts to revive coal, with coal executives at the White House awarding him a trophy as the 'Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal.'

The Environmental Protection Agency rescinded its 2009 finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life and well-being, eliminating the government's legal authority to regulate climate-warming pollution. The rollback prevents the EPA from setting emission limits and is described by climate advocates as a major gift to fossil fuel industries.

Trump administration repeals a landmark Obama-era climate finding, revoking a bedrock scientific determination that previously enabled the government to limit pollution from cars and trucks.

EPA enforcement against environmental polluters has nearly ceased under the Trump administration, with records showing only one environmental consent decree filed in the past year compared to 26 filed during the first year of Trump's first term.

Trump repealed a landmark Obama-era climate rule, specifically an endangerment finding related to EPA air pollution enforcement, which environmental groups characterized as devastating to public health protection.

The Trump administration touted climate savings from reversing a climate finding, but critics accused the administration of "cooking the books" by claiming the US would save $1.3 trillion from the reversal, with new rules set to push up US prices.

The Trump administration ended EPA tax credits for the start-stop engine feature in vehicles that automatically shuts off at red lights, reversing environmental incentives for manufacturers.

Environmental groups filed a lawsuit challenging the EPA's repeal of the 'endangerment finding' that determined greenhouse gases threaten public health, while the Trump administration also plans to loosen mercury rules for coal plants.

Trump touts 'drill, baby, drill' energy agenda in State of the Union, deriding Biden's 'green new scam' and celebrating rising US oil production, with no acknowledgment of climate crisis concerns.

A federal judge in Oregon rejected the Trump administration's bid to overturn a Biden-era agreement protecting endangered salmon populations from hydropower dams. The ruling sided with environmental protections over the administration's preferred energy policies.

The EPA rolled back chemical safety rules as the Trump administration moved to kill a system protecting the US from chemical disasters. Chemical firms claimed provisions in the Risk Management Plan protection system were too expensive to implement.

The EPA found that most US coal plants could meet air pollution rules, but Trump weakened the rules anyway. The EPA determined only 27 of 219 plants needed upgrades, yet 71 plants later received exemptions as the administration scrapped mercury limits.

Jeffrey B. Clark, architect of Trump's rollback of climate rules, left the White House after overseeing the dismantlement of government restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions and water and air pollution. He had also faced a criminal probe in connection with the 2020 election.

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit challenging California's clean car rules, arguing that the state's tailpipe emissions regulations would illegally force a rapid transition to electric vehicles. The action represents a continuation of the administration's legal battles with California over environmental standards.

The Trump administration approved a $5 billion ultra-deepwater oil drilling project in the Gulf of Mexico operated by BP, expected to produce up to 10 billion barrels of oil by the end of the decade. Critics warned the project could endanger people and marine life.

A controversial California oil pipeline that had been closed since 2015 after a major spill reopened after a Trump order, with the president citing the need to boost US energy supply amid the war on Iran.

US states filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump EPA's decision to repeal an endangerment finding that ruled greenhouse gases threaten public health. The lawsuit argues the rescission was illegal.

California sued the Trump administration over its revival of a controversial oil pipeline that had been closed following a 2015 spill. The state's attorney general decried the action as "outrageous federal overreach."

The Trump administration announced a nearly $1 billion deal with French energy company TotalEnergies to redirect investment from a wind project to oil and gas development, reflecting the administration's energy priorities.

EPA documents revealed that the Trump administration relied on industry-funded science to weaken formaldehyde cancer safety rules, reversing protections established during the Biden administration. The documents show how chemical industry lobbying influenced the policy decision.

Trump plans to revoke protections for endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico by convening the 'God squad' to override provisions of the Endangered Species Act on grounds of 'national security.'

The Trump administration approved drilling in the Gulf of Mexico by waiving the Endangered Species Act, a move critics argue exploits the administration's 'self-made gas crisis' and could threaten the rare Rice's whale.

Trump administration removed environmental protections for Rice's whales, an endangered cetacean species with fewer than 50 remaining, citing national security grounds for the removal.

Trump Administration's EPA chief Lee Zeldin delivers keynote speech at conference for the Heartland Institute, a climate-denying group that has previously compared climate advocates to the Unabomber.

A climate change denial conference held near the White House drew hundreds of attendees who rejected the scientific consensus on climate change, reflecting a resurgence of climate denial messaging in the Trump administration.

Trump's administration pressured developing nations at global IMF and World Bank spring meetings to shelve a crucial green action plan, creating what observers characterized as a 'beyond absurd' situation that left climate policy deadlocked at international financial forums.

The US Senate voted 50-49 to repeal a Biden-era 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters canoe area wilderness in Minnesota, allowing mineral extraction to resume in the renowned protected area.

President Trump signed memoranda to boost domestic fossil fuel production, claiming that inadequate oil, coal, and gas supply presents a national security and defense readiness threat. The orders aim to expand oil, coal, and gas production.

Trump's border wall plans will now slice through Big Bend National Park in rural Texas, which has long been spared from such construction, facing bipartisan opposition from local residents.

A federal judge halted Trump administration actions aimed at restricting renewable energy projects. The Interior Department had imposed restrictions on wind and solar projects across the country, prompting legal challenges from developers.

An American Lung Association report warned that nearly half of U.S. children are breathing dangerous levels of air pollution, with the findings coming amid the Trump EPA's extensive rollback of environmental protections.

The Trump administration ended independent science at the EPA by dismantling the agency's prestigious research office that had spent decades conducting scientific work insulated from political pressure.

The Trump administration blocked U.S. wind energy projects as part of a shift toward oil and gas development, continuing efforts opposed by some Democratic lawmakers. However, experts report that U.S. renewable energy generation—including solar and wind—exceeded natural gas for the first time last month despite administration policies.

The Trump administration is evicting bison herds from federal grasslands in Montana to appease ranchers and Republican leaders, siding against environmentalists and tribal leaders over control of public lands.

The Trump administration has deleted or altered significant government datasets on topics including climate change, reproductive health, LGBTQ+ issues, and public health data. Experts and researchers have launched efforts to save the data before additional erasure occurs.

The Trump administration lifted a ban on spring-loaded 'cyanide bombs' on public lands, allowing the Bureau of Land Management to use the devices to kill coyotes and other predators that threaten livestock.

A Trump administration panel is seeking to weaken FEMA's disaster response capabilities amid rising climate crisis concerns. Experts warn the council's proposals will leave the Federal Emergency Management Agency ill-equipped to respond to extreme weather events.

The Trump administration announced plans to weaken Biden-era regulations on "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in drinking water by delaying tough standards for common types and rescinding limits on rarer forms of the substance. Health advocates warned that government claims about baby formula safety contradict independent data showing most samples tested were contaminated with PFAS or phthalates.

Environmental advocates are criticizing Trump's plan to open 24 million acres of federal lands to cattle grazing, arguing the administration is prioritizing large agriculture interests at the expense of wildlife and protected species.

Trump administration officials announced plans to repeal EPA limits on 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) in drinking water, actions criticized by opponents as 'hocus pocus' from RFK Jr. and EPA head Lee Zeldin. The effort represents a reversal of Biden-era environmental rules.

The EPA announced it was cutting Biden-era regulations on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water. Environmental advocates argue the rollback will harm public health while benefiting industry.

Trump rescinded two executive orders that had prohibited the use of off-road vehicles in most national parks, lifting restrictions on the vehicles' use on public lands.

Seven U.S. states sued the Trump administration over a $1 billion deal to terminate a major offshore wind lease off the coast of New York, arguing the agreement is unlawful.

Trump administration officials announced plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $368 million network that has provided crucial climate data. Environmental experts have expressed dismay at the proposed cuts.

The White House proposed a new plan to vet public grants for "American values," sparking broad alarm among scientists and experts who warn it would amount to a "devastating blow" to scientific research and funding.

Trump announced plans to use wartime powers under the Defense Production Act to allocate $700 million for two new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia as part of his energy policy.

Two corporations bid on oil and gas leases during an auction in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, with only 10 percent of available land claimed for development despite Trump administration promotion of the sale as 'liquid gold.'

Solar power continued to surpass coal for electricity generation in the U.S. despite Trump administration policies favoring coal, according to reports from energy think tank Ember and the Solar Energy Industries Association released on Wednesday.

The Trump administration issued waivers allowing border wall construction in Big Bend National Park in Texas, circumventing environmental protection laws. Environmental groups and local stakeholders protested the move despite declining border crossings.

The Trump administration proposed a $75 million coal terminal in Oakland, California, which residents of this liberal city strongly opposed due to existing toxic waste and high pollution rates in the area. The project is part of a broader effort to open public lands to industry and extraction.

The Trump administration announced the opening of public lands to off-road vehicles, drawing criticism from environmental groups who say the move is reckless and threatens wildlife and ecosystems.

The Trump administration reversed its earlier decision to dismantle a $368 million ocean monitoring system after facing opposition from experts and lawmakers. The Sea Observatory Initiative had been targeted for elimination before the reversal.

The Trump administration's Interior Department proposed to relax regulations governing oil and gas drilling on public lands, lowering costs and weakening environmental protections for fossil fuel companies operating on federal property.

The Trump administration's Commerce Department accused California's coastal agency of 'environmental terrorism' and announced plans to evaluate the agency's policies, escalating the administration's conflict with the state over energy production and environmental protection.

Trump administration officials announced plans to limit public input on fossil fuel drilling on federal lands, a move advocates say will reduce scrutiny of polluters and shift financial risks to taxpayers while constituting an attack on democratic participation.

The Trump administration approved three new pesticides containing molecules with strong carbon-fluorine bonds that may be classified as 'forever chemicals' under international definitions, despite the EPA disputing this characterization.

A federal appeals court stayed a lower court order requiring the National Park Service to restore signs and exhibits removed by the Trump administration, allowing the removal of climate, immigration, and slavery-related information from national parks to proceed.