Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• EPA finalizes amendments to hydrofluorocarbon use restrictions under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act — The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule amending restrictions on hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) use across multiple refrigeration and air conditioning subsectors. The rule extends compliance dates for semiconductor manufacturing equipment (to January 1, 2030), establishes graduated schedules for supermarket systems and cold storage warehouses (interim limits until January 1, 2032), adjusts temperature thresholds for intermodal refrigerated transport containers, extends deadlines for laboratory equipment, removes installation deadlines for residential AC/HP equipment manufactured before January 1, 2025, and allows modest cooling capacity increases in supermarket systems. The rule becomes effective July 27, 2026.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration approves BP's Kaskida ultra-deepwater oil drilling project in Gulf of Mexico — The Trump administration's Interior Department approved BP's $5 billion Kaskida project, an ultra-deepwater oil drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico that will drill 6,000 feet into water and extend 6 miles into the seabed—deeper than Mount Everest's height. The project is expected to extract 80,000 barrels of oil daily from six wells starting in 2029. Environmental groups filed a lawsuit on the 16th anniversary of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, alleging the project poses catastrophic environmental and community risks and that BP has failed to demonstrate safe drilling capabilities or adequate containment measures for potential spills of up to 4.5 million barrels.

Supporting reports

• EPA revoked endangerment finding for greenhouse gas emissions — The Environmental Protection Agency revoked the endangerment finding that has been the basis for regulating emissions from cars and power plants since 2009. The finding reflected scientific consensus that greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels endanger the health and general welfare of the American people. The Trump administration claims the revocation will save Americans $1.3 trillion, primarily through cheaper cars and trucks, but did not factor in costs of extreme weather or pollution-related health issues.
• Trump administration announces repeal of 2009 endangerment finding on greenhouse gases — The Trump administration, led by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced it will formally rescind the 2009 Obama-era endangerment finding that determined CO2 and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. This finding has served as the legal foundation for federal climate regulations under the Clean Air Act. The White House press secretary characterized the action as "the largest deregulatory action in American history." Environmental groups have pledged legal challenges, arguing the move will expose Americans to climate risks and health harms while benefiting fossil fuel interests.
• Trump EPA rescinds 2009 endangerment finding, eliminating legal basis for federal climate regulations — The Trump administration, through EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, finalized the rescission of the 2009 endangerment finding—the legal foundation for all federal climate regulations under the Clean Air Act. The administration characterized this as the "largest deregulatory action in American history" and claimed it would save $1.3 trillion, though provided no methodology. Environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, and Sierra Club pledged immediate litigation. The move follows Trump's campaign-trail request for $1 billion from oil executives in exchange for scrapping environmental rules.
• Trump EPA revokes endangerment finding, eliminating climate pollution regulation authority — The Trump administration's EPA, led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, revoked the 2009 endangerment finding that authorized the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, power plants, and industrial sources under the Clean Air Act. Trump called it "the single largest deregulatory action in American history." The move eliminates the EPA's legal basis to impose emissions tracking, reporting, and limits on transportation sources, though stationary sources remain technically covered under a separate Clean Air Act section. Environmental groups and California have pledged legal challenges; experts project 18 billion additional tons of planet-warming pollution by 2055 and up to $4.7 trillion in climate and air-pollution costs.
• EPA moves to revoke greenhouse gas emissions authority — The Environmental Protection Agency moved to revoke its longstanding authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the endangerment finding. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin claimed the endangerment finding, which stated that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health, was built on a "con job" and asserted that climate change does not endanger public health.
• White House issues fact sheet announcing EPA revocation of 2009 Endangerment Finding — The White House issued a fact sheet announcing that President Trump has revoked the EPA's 2009 "Endangerment Finding" that classified greenhouse gases as harmful to human health under the Clean Air Act. The document claims this action eliminates the regulatory foundation for vehicle emissions standards, fuel economy mandates, and power plant regulations. The fact sheet asserts the revocation will save American families an average of $2,400 on vehicle purchases and reduce overall regulatory costs by $1.3 trillion. The announcement includes statements from industry groups, conservative organizations, and Republican officials supporting the action.

Supporting reports

• White House issued promotional release claiming administration achievements — The White House published a promotional release titled "Don't Be a Panican. We're Winning — and We're Not Slowing Down." The document claims multiple policy achievements including stock market gains, ICE immigration enforcement actions, halting gender-affirming care for minors, court victories on immigration detention, crime reductions, falling rents and mortgage rates, and zero illegal border crossings for nine consecutive months. The release frames these as evidence of successful implementation of the "America First agenda."
• White House issued fact sheet claiming violent crime plummets under Trump administration — The White House published a fact sheet titled "Violent Crime Plummets Across Major U.S. Cities," citing Axios reporting and claiming steep declines in violent crime in 2025 compared to 2024. The document states murders fell 19%, robberies 20%, and aggravated assaults nearly 10%, and asserts the murder rate in major cities reached its lowest level in at least 125 years. The fact sheet attributes these declines to President Trump's "aggressive, no-nonsense approach to public safety," including federal resource deployment and immigration enforcement.
• White House issues fact sheet claiming inflation victory and real wage gains — The White House published a fact sheet asserting that President Trump has "defeated" inflation, citing a January 2026 Consumer Price Index report showing year-over-year inflation at 2.4% and claiming real average hourly earnings rose 1.2% over the past year, with cumulative real wage gains of $1,400 in Trump's first year. The document attributes price declines in beef, eggs, coffee, energy, and gasoline to Trump's policies and references drug pricing reforms and a "Great Healthcare Plan."
• White House issues fact sheet announcing EPA revocation of 2009 Endangerment Finding — The White House issued a fact sheet announcing that President Trump has revoked the EPA's 2009 "Endangerment Finding" that classified greenhouse gases as harmful to human health under the Clean Air Act. The document claims this action eliminates the regulatory foundation for vehicle emissions standards, fuel economy mandates, and power plant regulations. The fact sheet asserts the revocation will save American families an average of $2,400 on vehicle purchases and reduce overall regulatory costs by $1.3 trillion. The announcement includes statements from industry groups, conservative organizations, and Republican officials supporting the action.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration announces expanded offshore oil and gas drilling off California and Florida coasts — The Trump administration announced a new federal petroleum leasing schedule for 2026–2031 that includes up to 34 auctions across U.S. waters: six off California, 21 off Alaska (including a region never drilled), and two in the eastern Gulf of Mexico off Florida. The move reverses Biden-era climate protections and reflects Trump's National Energy Dominance Council priority on fossil fuel expansion. California Governor Newsom rejected the plan; Florida Republicans, including Senators Scott and Moody, have signaled opposition due to tourism and environmental concerns.

Supporting reports

• EPA head announced revocation of 2009 endangerment finding on greenhouse gases — EPA head Lee Zeldin announced that the Trump administration would revoke the 2009 "endangerment finding," a declaration that found that greenhouse gas emissions lead to global warming and threaten public health. Zeldin called the move, which would remove the federal government's authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, the "largest deregulatory action in the history" of the US, if finalized.
• Environmental groups and former EPA leaders condemned endangerment finding revocation — Zeldin's announcement prompted widespread backlash from environmental groups, the scientific community, and three former EPA leaders. The executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council told AP that the move "boggles the mind and endangers the nation's safety and welfare" as the US faces deadly floods and heat waves, adding that the council will sue the EPA if "this illegal and cynical approach" is finalized.
• EPA moves to rescind 2009 endangerment finding on greenhouse gases — Trump loyalists at the Environmental Protection Agency moved in August to rescind the agency's 2009 endangerment finding that has underpinned climate change regulatory efforts since the Obama administration. The move rejects widely accepted scientific consensus on climate change despite increased scientific evidence supporting the original finding.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14318 accelerating federal permitting for AI data center infrastructure and revoking prior EO 14141. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14318 on July 23, 2025, establishing expedited federal permitting procedures for AI data center projects and related infrastructure exceeding 100 megawatts. The order directs agencies to streamline environmental reviews under NEPA through categorical exclusions, expedite Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permitting, facilitate programmatic consultation under the Endangered Species Act, and identify federal lands for data center development. It revokes Executive Order 14141 from January 2025 and authorizes financial support including loans, grants, and tax incentives for qualifying projects.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14319 restricting federal AI procurement to models meeting "Unbiased AI Principles" excluding diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14319 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure only large language models (LLMs) that comply with "Unbiased AI Principles" emphasizing truth-seeking and ideological neutrality. The order defines DEI as suppression of factual information, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and intersectionality. OMB must issue implementation guidance within 120 days. Agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones where practicable, with vendor decommissioning costs charged for noncompliance.
• Trump administration unveils plan to fast-track AI infrastructure by dismantling environmental regulations — The Trump administration rolled out a 28-page scheme on Wednesday to accelerate AI sector development by removing environmental and land-use regulations, streamlining permitting for datacenters and semiconductor facilities, rolling back Biden-era climate-linked subsidy requirements, and seeking exclusions for datacenters from the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act. Trump is expected to sign three AI-related executive orders during a DC summit keynote address. The plan explicitly rejects "radical climate dogma" and pledges to review state AI laws for interference with federal authority, threatening to withhold federal funding from states with protective AI regulations.
• Trump signs three executive orders on AI, targeting "woke" models and removing environmental protections for datacentres — On Wednesday at an AI summit in Washington, Trump signed three executive orders aimed at advancing U.S. AI development. One order requires AI companies receiving federal funding to maintain "politically neutral" models free of "ideological dogmas such as DEI." A second order deregulates AI development and removes environmental protections for datacentre construction. A third expedites federal permitting for datacentre infrastructure. The orders accompany a 24-page "AI action plan" titled "Winning the Race" that repeals Biden-era AI safeguards and emphasizes speed over regulation.
• Trump issued executive order establishing American AI Exports Program to promote global deployment of U.S. AI technology packages. — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 23, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to establish the American AI Exports Program within 90 days. The program supports development and deployment of full-stack U.S. AI technology packages—including hardware, data pipelines, AI models, security measures, and applications—to allied and partner nations. The order mobilizes federal financing tools through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group to provide loans, guarantees, equity investments, and technical assistance for selected industry consortia. The initiative aims to extend American technological dominance and reduce international dependence on adversary-developed AI systems.
• Trump issues executive order accelerating federal permitting for AI data center infrastructure — President Trump issued an executive order on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to streamline permitting and environmental reviews for large-scale data center projects (>100 MW) and related infrastructure. The order establishes expedited review processes under NEPA, creates categorical exclusions for environmental assessment, authorizes use of federal lands for data center development, and revokes a prior Biden-era AI infrastructure order. Agencies must identify financial support mechanisms and coordinate permitting timelines.
• Trump issues executive order requiring federal AI procurement to prioritize "truth-seeking" and "ideological neutrality" over diversity and inclusion principles. — President Donald Trump signed Executive Order "Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government" on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure only large language models (LLMs) that comply with two principles: truth-seeking (prioritizing historical accuracy and scientific objectivity) and ideological neutrality (rejecting DEI-influenced outputs). The order defines DEI in AI as suppression of factual information about race or sex, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and intersectionality. Within 120 days, the Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance to agencies; agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones within 90 days of guidance issuance.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14319 directing federal agencies to procure only large language models compliant with "Unbiased AI Principles" excluding diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14319 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure large language models (LLMs) that comply with two stated principles: "truth-seeking" and "ideological neutrality." The order defines "DEI" as including suppression of factual information about race or sex, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and systemic racism. OMB must issue implementation guidance within 120 days. Agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones where practicable, with vendor decommissioning costs charged for noncompliance.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive order on AI procurement standards — The White House published a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing federal agencies to procure artificial intelligence models that adhere to "Unbiased AI Principles" emphasizing truthfulness and ideological neutrality. The order instructs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance for agency implementation and mandates that federal contracts for large language models include compliance terms and vendor accountability provisions. The fact sheet frames the order as preventing "woke AI" and DEI-driven bias in federal AI systems.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order accelerating federal permitting for data center infrastructure — The White House published a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to accelerate federal permitting of data center infrastructure. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial support (loans, grants, tax incentives) for qualifying projects exceeding 100 megawatts of new load, including data centers, semiconductors, and related infrastructure. The order revokes a Biden-era executive order, streamlines environmental reviews, designates projects for expedited permitting under FAST-41, promotes use of Brownfield and Superfund sites, and authorizes data center construction on federal lands.
• White House releases "America's AI Action Plan" outlining 90+ federal policy actions — The White House issued "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" on July 23, 2025, pursuant to President Trump's January executive order on AI leadership. The plan identifies over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating innovation, building AI infrastructure, and leading in international diplomacy. Key policies include exporting American AI to allies, expediting data center permits, removing federal regulations hindering AI development, and updating procurement guidelines to ensure frontier AI models are "objective and free from top-down ideological bias."
• White House signed Executive Order 14318 accelerating federal permitting for data center infrastructure — The White House issued Executive Order 14318 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to expedite permitting and environmental reviews for data center projects exceeding 100 megawatts of new load dedicated to AI, as well as related energy and component manufacturing infrastructure. The order revokes Executive Order 14141, establishes categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to bypass environmental review, streamlines Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permitting, authorizes use of federal lands including military installations for data center development, and directs the EPA to expedite Brownfield and Superfund Site reuse. The order defines "Qualifying Projects" to include facilities with $500 million+ capital commitments or national security designation, with authority to designate projects vested in Commerce, Defense, Interior, and Energy secretaries.
• Trump signs Executive Order 14320 establishing American AI Exports Program to promote global deployment of U.S. AI technology packages. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14320 on July 23, 2025, establishing the American AI Exports Program to coordinate federal support for exporting full-stack American AI technologies globally. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with State and OSTP, to issue a public call for industry proposals within 90 days. Selected proposals will receive priority access to federal financing tools, including loans, loan guarantees, equity investments, and political risk insurance, coordinated through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group. The program aims to extend U.S. technological dominance and reduce international dependence on adversary AI systems.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting export of American AI technologies via executive order — The White House issued a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to establish an American AI Exports Program. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and deploy full-stack AI technology packages (hardware, data systems, models, cybersecurity, sector applications) to allies and partners. The fact sheet states the initiative aims to strengthen ties with allies, promote U.S. standards, maintain technological dominance, and reduce global reliance on systems from adversarial nations.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting U.S.-Indonesia reciprocal trade deal — The White House published a compilation of industry statements praising a reciprocal trade framework with Indonesia. The document claims the deal eliminates approximately 99% of tariff barriers on U.S. industrial, food, and agricultural exports, unlocks market access, and removes non-tariff barriers. Industry groups representing steel, petroleum, technology, agriculture, dairy, and meat sectors issued statements welcoming the agreement's provisions on digital trade, tariff elimination, and market access.
• White House signed Executive Order 14320 establishing American AI Exports Program — The White House signed Executive Order 14320 on July 23, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to establish the American AI Exports Program within 90 days. The order mandates a coordinated federal effort to promote export of full-stack American AI technology packages (hardware, data pipelines, models, security measures, and applications) to specified target countries. The order mobilizes federal financing tools through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group, including direct loans, loan guarantees, equity investments, and political risk insurance, to support selected priority AI export packages.

Supporting reports

• EPA proposes rule eliminating the endangerment finding for greenhouse gases — The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new rule to eliminate the endangerment finding established in 2009 that, based on scientific evidence, determined that greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide and methane warm the planet and endanger human life. Most vehicle, factory, and power plant emissions standards currently in place derive from this finding. EPA officials told the New York Times they intend to argue that climate regulations, rather than greenhouse gas emissions themselves, cause harm to human health through higher prices and reduced consumer choice.

Supporting reports

• Trump proclamation exempts ethylene oxide sterilization facilities from EPA emissions standards for two years. — President Trump issued Proclamation 10959 on July 17, 2025, exempting certain stationary sources subject to the EPA's April 2024 ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions rule from compliance for two years beyond the rule's original deadlines. The proclamation asserts that required emissions-control technology does not exist in commercially viable form and that the exemption serves national security by preventing disruption to the supply of sterile medical devices. Affected facilities will remain subject to pre-rule emissions obligations during the exemption period.
• Trump issued proclamation exempting medical sterilization facilities from EPA ethylene oxide emissions rule for two years — President Trump issued a proclamation granting a two-year exemption from the EPA's April 2024 ethylene oxide emissions standards rule for commercial sterilization facilities. The proclamation states the exemption applies to 24 named companies operating approximately 40 facilities nationwide. Trump asserts the rule's compliance technology does not exist in commercially viable form and that the exemption is necessary for national security to prevent disruption of sterile medical device supply. The proclamation extends all EtO Rule compliance deadlines by two years for listed facilities.
• Trump issued proclamation exempting taconite iron ore processing facilities from Clean Air Act emissions standards for 2 years — President Trump signed a proclamation on July 17, 2025, exempting certain taconite iron ore processing facilities from compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's March 2024 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants rule. The proclamation extends all compliance deadlines under the Taconite Rule by 2 years, citing national security interests and claims that required emissions-control technologies are not commercially viable. The exemption applies to six named facilities operated by U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs in Minnesota and Michigan.
• Trump proclamation exempts certain chemical manufacturers from HON Rule emissions standards for two years — President Trump issued Proclamation 10957 on July 17, 2025, exempting certain stationary sources subject to the EPA's May 2024 Hazardous Organic Naphtha (HON) Rule from compliance with section 112 Clean Air Act emissions-control requirements for two years beyond the rule's original compliance deadlines. The proclamation invokes national security and chemical manufacturing resilience, asserting that compliance technology is not commercially available. Affected facilities will revert to pre-HON Rule emissions obligations during the exemption period.
• Trump proclamation exempts taconite iron ore processors from Clean Air Act emissions standards for two years — President Trump issued Proclamation 10958 on July 17, 2025, exempting certain stationary sources engaged in taconite iron ore processing from compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's March 2024 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule under section 112 of the Clean Air Act. The proclamation extends all compliance deadlines by two years, citing unavailability of required emissions-control technology and national security interests in domestic steel production. Affected facilities revert to pre-rule emissions obligations during the exemption period.
• Trump issued proclamation exempting 25 chemical manufacturing facilities from Clean Air Act emissions standards for 2 years — President Trump signed a proclamation on July 17, 2025, exempting 25 named chemical manufacturing facilities from compliance with the EPA's May 2024 Hazardous Organic Noxides (HON) Rule for 2 years beyond the rule's original compliance deadlines. The proclamation asserts that the technology to implement the HON Rule is not commercially available and that the exemption serves national security interests by protecting domestic chemical supply chains. The exemption extends all compliance deadlines by 2 years, during which affected facilities remain subject to pre-HON Rule emissions standards.
• Trump issued proclamation exempting coal-fired power plants from EPA emissions standards for two years — President Trump signed a proclamation on July 17, 2025, exempting certain coal-fired electric utility generating units from compliance with the EPA's 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule for a two-year period (July 8, 2027 to July 8, 2029). The proclamation states the exemption applies to three named facilities (Cardinal Units 1–3 in Ohio, Craig Generating Station Units 2–3 in Colorado, and Dallman Unit 4 in Illinois) and asserts that the required emissions-control technology does not exist in commercially viable form and that the exemption serves national security interests by protecting coal-sector jobs and grid reliability.
• White House issues fact sheet on EPA regulatory relief proclamations — The White House issued a fact sheet on July 17, 2025, announcing that President Trump signed four proclamations granting two years of regulatory relief from EPA emissions standards for coal plants, taconite iron ore processing facilities, and chemical manufacturers producing semiconductors, medical device sterilization, and defense-related chemicals. The fact sheet states these exemptions allow facilities to comply with pre-Biden EPA standards instead of current rules, claiming the relief supports national security and economic stability while avoiding "unattainable compliance requirements."

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court Allows Challenge to California's Emission Limits — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of fossil fuel companies and 17 Republican-led states, allowing them to challenge California's waiver to set stricter car emission standards than federal limits. The 7-2 decision overturns a lower court ruling that dismissed the lawsuit due to lack of standing. This waiver, periodically granted since 1967, has enabled California to lead in reducing vehicle pollution. The ruling does not immediately end California's standards but opens the door for legal challenges against them.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC v. EPA (24-7) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC v. EPA. Docket number(s): 24-7.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court releases opinion in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County (23-975) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County. Docket number(s): 23-975.
• US Supreme Court Ruling on Utah Railway Project — On May 29, 2025, the US Supreme Court issued an 8-0 ruling in favor of a multibillion-dollar oil railway expansion project in Utah, overturning a lower court's decision that had halted the project. The ruling limits the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a key environmental law, by endorsing a narrower interpretation of environmental impact assessments. This decision is seen as a victory for the fossil fuel industry, allowing for faster expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure. The project, known as the Uinta Basin Railway, aims to transport crude oil from Utah to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

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• Revocation of Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revoked the Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems following a Congressional Review Act resolution. This action nullifies the 2024 rule, removing it from the Code of Federal Regulations. The revocation is effective immediately and exempts the EPA from notice-and-comment rulemaking due to its ministerial nature. The rule previously facilitated compliance with the Clean Air Act's Methane Emissions Reduction Program.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Cuts Federal Climate Science Agencies — The Trump administration has enacted sweeping cuts to federal agencies like NOAA and FEMA, firing climate scientists and halting data collection. These actions have disrupted climate research and preparedness, with significant implications for national and global climate response capabilities. The administration bypassed congressional oversight, using executive orders to implement these changes.
• Trump Administration Rolls Back Environmental Regulations — In the first 100 days of his second term, President Trump has taken over 140 actions to roll back environmental regulations, including rewriting pollution limits for vehicles and power plants, and reconsidering the public health impact of greenhouse gases. The administration has also accelerated environmental reviews for drilling projects and rescinded water efficiency standards. These actions have faced legal challenges, with courts scrutinizing the administration's attempts to bypass standard regulatory procedures.
• Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost Fossil Fuel Industry — President Trump signed executive orders to ease restrictions on fossil fuel extraction and exports, appointing industry supporters to key federal positions. The administration has also exempted the fossil fuel industry from certain tariffs, despite economic instability caused by these policies. These actions have been criticized for prioritizing industry interests over environmental and economic stability.
• Trump Targets Public Lands and Environmental Protections — The Trump administration has rescinded protections for federal waters and initiated changes to the National Environmental Policy Act, reducing public oversight. Plans include fast-tracking mining and drilling on public lands and rolling back the Endangered Species Act. These actions threaten conservation efforts and public land management.
• Trump administration declares an "energy emergency" to expand drilling — President Trump has declared an "energy emergency" to open more land and ocean areas for oil and gas drilling. This declaration is part of a broader effort to increase fossil fuel production in the United States, reversing environmental regulations and dismissing climate science. The administration's actions have led to a surge in expected greenhouse gas emissions from US oil and gas fields, contributing to global climate change concerns.
• Trump administration halts approvals of new solar and wind projects on federal lands and waters — The Trump administration has stopped the approval of new solar and wind projects on federal lands and waters. This move is part of a broader agenda to promote fossil fuels and reduce support for renewable energy. The administration has also criticized subsidies for clean energy and imposed high tariffs on solar panels from countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. These actions have led to the cancellation or downsizing of several large-scale clean energy projects, affecting planned investments in renewable energy.

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• Interior Department fast-tracks fossil fuel and mining permits via emergency declaration — The US Department of Interior announced plans to drastically accelerate permitting for fossil fuel and mining projects, citing President Trump's "energy emergency" declaration. The move reduces environmental review timelines from multiple years to a maximum of 28 days—standard environmental impact statements from two years to under one month. The department invoked emergency powers under the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. Environmental groups immediately challenged the legality of the action, arguing no genuine energy emergency exists and the move circumvents core environmental protections.

Supporting reports

• Reinvigorating America's Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241 — President Trump signed Executive Order 14260 on April 8, 2025, directing the Attorney General to identify all state and local laws, regulations, and causes of action burdening domestic energy development—particularly those addressing climate change, environmental justice, carbon emissions, or ESG initiatives—that the administration deems unconstitutional, preempted by federal law, or otherwise unenforceable. The order instructs the Attorney General to expeditiously stop enforcement of such laws and submit a report within 60 days recommending additional presidential or legislative action.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14260 directing Attorney General to identify and challenge state energy and climate laws as unconstitutional or preempted. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14262 on April 8, 2025, invoking emergency authority under the Federal Power Act to address electricity demand surge from AI data centers and manufacturing. The order directs the Secretary of Energy to streamline Department of Energy processes for issuing orders under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, develop a uniform reserve-margin methodology within 30 days, and establish protocols to identify and retain generation resources critical to system reliability. The order authorizes DOE to prevent generation resources exceeding 50 megawatts from leaving the bulk-power system or converting fuel sources if such conversion would reduce accredited generating capacity.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14262 directing DOE to streamline emergency authority for electric grid reliability and develop reserve-margin methodology to retain generation resources. — On April 8, 2025, President Trump signed a series of executive orders designed to permit and expand coal plant construction. The orders are cited in the climate petition as part of the broader pattern of federal fossil fuel promotion that the young activists argue violates international human rights obligations. The orders exemplify the Trump administration's pro-fossil fuel regulatory posture.
• Trump signs executive orders to expand coal plant construction — President Trump signed an executive order on April 8, 2025, directing the Secretary of Energy to streamline Department of Energy processes for issuing emergency orders under the Federal Power Act to maintain electric grid reliability during supply interruptions. The order requires the Secretary to develop a uniform methodology for analyzing reserve margins across all bulk power system regions within 30 days, establish protocols to identify critical generation resources, and prevent generation resources exceeding 50 megawatts from leaving the grid or converting fuel sources if doing so would reduce accredited capacity. The order invokes emergency authority under a prior national energy emergency declaration.
• Trump issued executive order directing energy secretary to streamline grid reliability protocols and prevent power plant retirements. — President Trump issued Executive Order "Protecting American Energy From State Overreach" on April 8, 2025, directing the Attorney General to identify and challenge state and local laws regulating energy production, with particular focus on climate-related policies. The order characterizes state climate regulations—citing New York's climate liability law, Vermont's emissions penalties, and California's carbon cap system—as unconstitutional or preempted by federal law. The Attorney General is instructed to take "expeditious" action to stop enforcement of identified state laws and report within 60 days on actions taken and recommendations for additional presidential or legislative measures.
• Trump issues executive order directing DOJ to challenge state energy regulations — President Trump signed an executive order on April 8, 2025, designating coal as a "mineral" under Executive Order 14241 and directing federal agencies to remove regulatory barriers to coal production, expedite coal leasing on federal lands, and promote coal exports and use in electricity generation and steel production. The order requires the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, and Energy to assess coal resources on federal lands within 60 days and instructs multiple agencies to identify and revise policies that discourage coal investment.
• Trump issues executive order to reinvigorate coal industry and amend mineral production directive — President Trump signed Executive Order 14260 on April 8, 2025, directing the Attorney General to identify all state and local laws, regulations, and policies that burden domestic energy development—particularly those addressing climate change, environmental justice, carbon emissions, or ESG initiatives—and to take action to stop their enforcement. The order characterizes such state laws as unconstitutional, preempted, or otherwise unenforceable, citing concerns about energy costs, national security, and federalism. The Attorney General must report within 60 days on actions taken and recommend additional presidential or legislative measures.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14260 directing the Attorney General to identify and challenge state energy regulations as unconstitutional or preempted federal law. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14262 on April 8, 2025, directing the Secretary of Energy to streamline Department of Energy processes for issuing orders under the Federal Power Act during grid emergencies, develop a methodology to identify regions with low reserve margins, and establish protocols to retain generation resources identified as critical to system reliability. The order states it aims to address electricity demand from AI data centers and manufacturing. Section 3(c) authorizes the Secretary to prevent generation resources over 50 megawatts from leaving the bulk-power system or converting fuel sources if such conversion would reduce accredited generating capacity.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14262 directing emergency streamlining of energy generation approvals and retention of coal and fossil fuel plants. — The White House published a fact sheet on April 8, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that day. The order directs the Secretary of Energy to streamline emergency processes under the Federal Power Act, develop a uniform methodology to analyze reserve margins across bulk power regions, and prevent critical generation resources from leaving the grid or converting fuel sources if doing so would reduce accredited generating capacity. The fact sheet frames the order as a response to rising electricity demand from AI data centers and manufacturing.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive order on electric grid reliability and security — The White House published a fact sheet on April 8, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing the Attorney General to identify and challenge state laws and policies that burden domestic energy production. The order states it targets laws addressing climate change, environmental justice, carbon emissions, and carbon taxes. The fact sheet claims state policies in New York, Vermont, and California raise energy prices and disrupt supply. The Attorney General is directed to submit a report within 60 days detailing actions taken and recommendations.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive order on state energy regulation — The White House signed Executive Order 14261 on April 8, 2025, directing federal agencies to remove regulatory barriers to coal production, designate coal as a "mineral" under prior executive order, assess coal resources on federal lands, expedite coal leasing, lift mining barriers, identify and revise policies discouraging coal investment, promote coal exports, expand categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act for coal projects, and accelerate coal technology development. The order states coal is "essential to our national and economic security" and directs the Secretary of Interior to terminate the "Jewell Moratorium" on coal leasing.
• White House signed Executive Order 14261 to reinvigorate coal industry and amend Executive Order 14241 — President Trump issued Proclamation 10914 on April 8, 2025, exempting certain coal-fired electricity generation facilities from compliance with the EPA's May 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule revision for a two-year period (July 8, 2027–July 8, 2029). The proclamation invokes section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act and asserts that required emissions-control technology does not exist in commercially viable form and that the exemption serves national security and energy security interests. The exemption delays compliance obligations, reverting affected sources to pre-2024 MATS standards during the exemption window.
• Trump proclamation exempts coal-fired power plants from EPA emissions standards for two years. — On April 8, 2025, Trump signed four executive orders aimed at reviving the coal industry. He used emergency authority to allow older coal-fired power plants scheduled for retirement to continue producing electricity, claiming this is needed to meet increased energy demands from datacenters, AI, and electric cars. The order "slashes unnecessary regulations that targeted the beautiful, clean coal." Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel and its usage has long been in decline.
• Trump signed four executive orders reviving coal industry — President Trump signed a proclamation on April 8, 2025, exempting certain coal-fired electricity generation facilities from compliance with the EPA's 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) amendments for a two-year period (July 8, 2027 to July 8, 2029). The proclamation asserts that the required emissions-control technologies do not exist in commercially viable form and claims the exemption is necessary for national security, grid reliability, and energy security. The exemption delays compliance obligations that would otherwise take effect in 2027.
• Trump issued proclamation exempting coal-fired power plants from EPA emissions standards for two years — The White House published a fact sheet on April 8, 2025, promoting an executive order signed by President Trump that day. The order directs agencies to designate coal as a "mineral" under prior executive authority, lift barriers to coal mining on federal lands, rescind policies favoring transition away from coal, and promote coal exports and use in steel production and AI data centers. The fact sheet claims the coal industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and adds tens of billions annually to the economy.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive order on coal industry — The White House published a fact sheet on April 8, 2025, describing a proclamation signed by President Trump granting two years of relief from the Biden-era Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule to certain coal-fired power plants. The fact sheet states the proclamation allows affected plants to comply with a less stringent version of the EPA standard, claims this prevents premature plant closures, and asserts the measure protects energy grid stability and national security. The document characterizes the Biden-era rule as imposing "unattainable compliance requirements" and "commercially unviable" emissions-control technologies.
• White House issues fact sheet on EPA coal plant emissions relief proclamation — Trump said that some law firms that agreed to provide pro bono services to the administration will be working with coal companies on "leasing and other things." He also bragged about the agreements with the firms, saying "they give me a lot of money considering they've done nothing wrong." Trump has targeted or threatened law firms that partnered with or represented his political enemies, claiming they have "weaponized" the legal system.
• Trump said law firms will work with coal companies — President Trump signed four executive orders on Tuesday aimed at reviving coal production and allowing older coal-fired power plants scheduled for retirement to continue operating. The orders direct federal agencies to end policies discriminating against coal, impose a moratorium on Biden-era climate protections for coal plants, promote coal as a "secure" energy source, and instruct the Justice Department to investigate state policies that disadvantage coal. The administration framed the move as addressing rising electricity demand from datacenters, AI, and electric vehicles, though environmental groups criticized it as economically backward.
• Trump signs four executive orders to revive coal industry and allow retirement-scheduled plants to remain operational