Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump EPA proposes rule to exempt datacenters from public air pollution disclosure — The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new rule that would eliminate the Clean Air Act requirement for datacenters to publicly disclose air pollution emissions. The rule would make disclosure voluntary at state and local officials' discretion rather than mandatory. Datacenters are significant sources of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals. Environmental advocates warn the change will reduce public oversight, prevent communities from knowing what pollutants they will breathe, and weaken enforcement of federal pollution limits linked to asthma, heart disease, and cancer.
• EPA approves two toxic datacenter chemicals despite acknowledged health risks — The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency approved two photoacid generator compounds for import and immediate use in U.S. datacenters, despite acknowledging in consent orders that the chemicals may present "unreasonable risk" to workers and the public and could cause sudden death, cancer, neurological damage, and reproductive harm. The EPA admitted insufficient data to quantify acute toxicity and lethality risks but approved the chemicals anyway with minimal restrictions, prompting a lawsuit by Earthjustice arguing the approval violates the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Supporting reports

• FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigns over flavored vape reversal — FDA Commissioner Marty Makary reportedly resigned in protest after Trump directed him to reverse the FDA's prohibition on fruit-flavored vapes. The reversal occurred within a week of Trump's meeting with Reynolds American executives and lobbyist Brian Ballard, who had complained about the ban. The fruit-flavored vape ban had been implemented to protect children from the appeal of flavored nicotine products.

Supporting reports

• FDA issues guidance opening door to flavored vape sales after tobacco donation — The Trump Food and Drug Administration issued new guidance opening the door to the sale of flavored vapes after a tobacco company donated $5 million to the Trump-backed super PAC MAGA Inc. Two days after the donation, Trump had lunch with tobacco industry representatives, during which he complained to administration officials about FDA e-cigarette regulations. The new guidance was issued days later.

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

• EPA announced increase in safe formaldehyde exposure levels — The Environmental Protection Agency announced it is nearly doubling the amount of formaldehyde it considers safe to breathe. Formaldehyde is used in products ranging from building materials and leather goods to craft supplies and causes cancer, miscarriage, asthma, and other health issues by altering DNA. Chemical industry lobbyists have worked for years to water down government regulation of formaldehyde. The method of assessment behind the proposed new rule could change government regulation of other carcinogens as well.
• Trump EPA proposes weakening formaldehyde cancer risk assessment — The Trump administration's EPA announced a proposal to increase exposure levels to formaldehyde it considers safe, reversing Biden-era findings that any exposure to the carcinogenic chemical poses cancer risk. The agency would reverse five of 58 unreasonable-risk scenarios Biden's EPA identified and weaken restrictions for the remaining 53 by adopting a threshold-based risk model instead of the linear approach. Two former American Chemistry Council executives now lead the EPA's chemical safety office.

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

• EPA drops case against Geo Group after donations to Trump — The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dropped a case against Geo Group, a private prison operator, which faced up to $4 million in fines for using a toxic disinfectant at an immigration facility. This decision followed Geo Group's significant donations to Trump and Republican leadership. The EPA's move is considered unusual and has raised concerns about political intervention, as Geo Group is a major player in the administration's immigration policies. The case involved allegations of health risks to employees and detainees due to the use of the disinfectant.

Supporting reports

• FDA suspended dairy quality control program due to staff cuts — The FDA suspended a quality control program for testing of milk and other dairy products following dramatic staff cuts to the food safety and nutrition division by RFK Jr., who has already terminated 20,000 HHS employees. The Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) also suspended its quality control program for 170 food testing laboratories due to staff shortages. RFK Jr. has historically advocated for deregulation of raw milk sales despite historical links between unpasteurized milk and bovine tuberculosis transmission.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs Executive Order 14270 establishing zero-based regulatory budgeting with sunset provisions for energy-sector regulations. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14270 on April 9, 2025, directing specified federal agencies—EPA, DOE, FERC, NRC, and subcomponents of Interior and Army—to incorporate sunset provisions into regulations governing energy production, mining, and related activities. Covered regulations issued under designated statutes must include a conditional sunset date of one year from the effective date of the implementing rule (by September 30, 2025), subject to agency extension only after public comment demonstrating net benefit. New regulations may have sunset dates up to five years. The order aims to compel periodic reexamination of regulations to reduce what the administration characterizes as regulatory burden on energy innovation.
• Trump issues executive order requiring sunset provisions for energy-sector regulations — President Trump signed Executive Order "Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting To Unleash American Energy" on April 9, 2025, directing the EPA, Department of Energy, FERC, NRC, and related Interior and Army agencies to insert one-year conditional sunset dates into existing energy regulations and five-year sunset dates into new ones. Agencies must solicit public comment before extending sunsets. The order exempts regulatory permitting regimes and coordinates with the "DOGE Team" (Department of Government Efficiency). Regulations that expire are not counted toward the ten-for-one deregulatory requirement in a prior executive order.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order requiring automatic rescission of energy regulations — The White House published a fact sheet on April 9, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that day. The order requires ten agencies to insert one-year expiration dates into existing energy regulations; regulations not affirmatively extended will expire by September 30, 2026. Future energy regulations must include five-year expiration dates unless deregulatory. The fact sheet characterizes the policy as "zero-based regulation" designed to reset the regulatory landscape and prioritize energy abundance over efficiency.
• Trump issues executive order directing agencies to identify and rescind anti-competitive regulations — President Trump issued an executive order on April 9, 2025, directing federal agencies to review and identify regulations that create barriers to market entry, limit competition, or facilitate monopolies. Within 70 days, agency heads must consult with the Federal Trade Commission Chair and Attorney General to list anti-competitive rules and recommend rescission or modification. The FTC will solicit public input via a 40-day request for information, and within 90 days of receiving agency lists, the FTC will provide OMB a consolidated list of regulations warranting removal or change, to be incorporated into the Unified Regulatory Agenda.
• White House issued Executive Order 14267 directing federal agencies to identify and rescind anti-competitive regulations — The White House issued Executive Order 14267 on April 9, 2025, directing all federal agency heads to review regulations under their authority and identify those that create monopolies, erect barriers to market entry, limit competition, impose unnecessary licensure requirements, burden procurement processes, or otherwise restrain free-market operation. Agency heads must submit lists of identified regulations to the Federal Trade Commission Chairman and Attorney General within 70 days, with recommendations for rescission or modification. The FTC Chairman will issue a public request for information and, within 90 days of receiving agency lists, provide a consolidated list to the Office of Management and Budget for potential incorporation into the regulatory agenda.
• White House issued fact sheet on executive order directing agencies to identify and rescind anti-competitive regulations — The White House published a fact sheet on April 9, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing agency heads, in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission Chairman and Attorney General, to review regulations and identify those imposing anti-competitive restraints. Within 70 days, agencies must submit lists of anti-competitive regulations and proposals to rescind or modify them. The order also directs the FTC to solicit public input on regulations that impede competition. The fact sheet frames the order as part of a deregulatory agenda to restore competition and economic growth.

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

Supporting reports

• EPA administrator Lee Zeldin terminates $14 billion in Biden-initiated climate grants and plans elimination of 1,155 EPA scientists — EPA administrator Lee Zeldin announced termination of $14 billion in grants to three climate groups and plans to eliminate 1,155 chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and other scientists from the EPA's office of research and development. The grant terminations were subsequently blocked by a federal judge. Riverkeeper president Tracy Brown characterized the cuts as a "pandemic-level shock to the system" that threatens water safety, environmental research capacity, and decades of progress in Hudson River restoration and climate adaptation work.

Supporting reports

• HHS announced pullback of $11 billion in COVID-19 funds — The Department of Health and Human Services announced it would pull back over $11 billion in COVID-19-related funds for state and local public health departments and other health organizations. The pullback defunds critical public health infrastructure.
• HHS Pulls Federal Grants for Health Programs — HHS abruptly pulled more than $12 billion in federal grants for state programs tracking infectious diseases, mental health services, and addiction treatment. This decision affects public health funding and services.
• Department of Health and Human Services cancels $12 billion in federal grants to states — The Department of Health and Human Services suddenly cancelled more than $12 billion in federal grants to states that had supported mental health services, addiction treatment, and programs to track infectious diseases. The cancellation occurred without advance notice to state officials and represents a significant reduction in public health infrastructure funding.