Trump Administration Unleashes Across-the-Board Regulatory Weakening of Key Environmental Law

Multiple federal agencies revoked longstanding regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Contacts

Geoffrey Nolan, gnolan@earthjustice.org

Today, multiple federal agencies revoked longstanding regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In some cases, new regulations were proposed to replace them; in others, the regulations are replaced by nonbinding guidance. In all cases, the regulations significantly weaken the implementation of the statute by cutting the public out of NEPA reviews and eliminating all references to consider climate change, environmental justice, and other crucial environmental issues. Agencies taking action today include the Department of Agriculture (which includes the U.S. Forest Service), the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Other federal agencies are expected to issue similar standards in the days ahead.

Earthjustice Vice President of Litigation Andre Segura issued the following statement:

“NEPA — the People’s Environmental Law — plays a vital role in ensuring that government decisions are transparent, well-informed, and accountable to the public. Collectively, today’s actions reverse that promise and fundamentally undermine the public’s ability to participate in federal decision-making processes. The Biden administration made explicitly clear the requirements that agencies consider climate change, environmental justice, and local communities when performing NEPA reviews. The Trump administration has thrown those standards in the trash and cut people out of the people’s environmental law.”

Navajo community leader Daniel Tso speaks out against fracking at a Bureau of Land Management meeting that was required under the National Environmental Policy Act. The law gives communities a chance to speak out against projects that will impact them.
Navajo community leader Daniel Tso speaks out against fracking at a meeting that was required under the National Environmental Policy Act. The law gives communities a chance to speak out against projects that will impact them. (Steven St. John for Earthjustice)

Additional Resources

About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.