Summary

The environmental policy of the first Donald Trump administration represented a significant shift away from the priorities of the preceding Obama administration. The Trump administration emphasized energy independence based on fossil fuel use, deregulation of industry, and the reduction of environmental protections. This approach faced legal challenges and opposition from environmental groups.

Key Points

  • President Trump appointed cabinet members who opposed consensus climate science and supported the expansion of fossil fuel extraction.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget was cut by 31%, and the head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, rolled back numerous Obama-era environmental regulations, including those related to clean air and water.
  • The Trump administration withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and proposed to end the Clean Power Plan, a key Obama-era initiative to reduce carbon emissions from power plants.
  • Trump and his cabinet officials made numerous public statements downplaying or denying the severity of climate change.
  • The administration proposed to open up more federal land for oil and gas drilling, including in protected areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and national monuments.
  • Trump reversed the Obama-era Clean Water Rule, which protected small streams and wetlands.
  • Environmental groups filed numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration's environmental rollbacks, with some resulting in legal victories.
  • Despite the Trump administration's efforts, the United States remained the only nation that had not ratified the Paris Climate Agreement.

Impacts and Reactions

The Trump administration's environmental policies were controversial and met with strong opposition from environmentalists and scientists. Critics argued that the policies would worsen air and water pollution, harm public health, and contribute to climate change.

Legal challenges and public pressure played a role in shaping the Trump administration's environmental agenda. However, its deregulatory actions and pro-fossil fuel stance left a lasting impact on environmental protection in the United States.