Press Release | January 20, 2025

Trump administration makes broad commitments to undermine environmental protections  

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has made sweeping promises to undermine environmental progress on day one of its second term, including executive orders and other actions intended to dismantle air and water protections and to end climate and environmental justice investments, as well as clean energy programs and policies.

The administration’s broad statements today call for declaring an unfounded “national energy emergency” to grease the skids for risky, polluting fossil fuels at a time when the United States is generating abundant, fuel-free solar and wind energy that reduce Americans’ energy costs. The administration also promised to streamline permitting and accelerate pipelines and other new fossil fuel projects, revoke electric vehicle incentives, push for more offshore drilling, and withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords.

In response, the following statement is from DJ Gerken, President and Executive Director of the Southern Environmental Law Center:

“No one voted for dirty air and water. Americans understand that everyone has a right to live free of toxic pollution and our children deserve real action on climate change. Today’s actions renew the Trump administration’s assault on environmental protections, but executive orders can’t rewrite the law. SELC will hold the administration accountable to the law, defend our environmental protections, and stand with Southern communities as they fight for clean air and water.”

The Executive Orders have not yet been made public, and SELC will be closely reviewing the text of the orders as they are made available.

SELC experts can be available today and in the coming days to discuss how federal policy issues could affect communities in the South and beyond, including climate, environmental justice, energy policy, water pollution, air pollution, wetlands and coast, electric vehicles and transportation, forests, and wildlife.

Are you a reporter and would like more information? Please visit our press contact page for a full list of SELC’s press contacts.

Press Contacts

Emily Driscoll

Senior Communications Manager

Phone: 404-521-9900
Email: [email protected]