Trump Attacks Environmental Rules Amid Flurry of Executive Orders

Climate activists and electric vehicle advocates are closely watching President Trump’s executive orders, many of which are aimed at rolling back Biden-era climate regulations and (non-binding) electrification goals.

Language in an executive order issued by Trump on Monday would roll back a federal exemption that allowed California and other states to mandate the phasing out of gas-powered vehicles and puts a pause on funding for EV charging infrastructure, according to an Associated Press article. It also attempts to eliminate EPA rules on greenhouse gas emissions for transportation and indicates the administration will push to eliminate the federal EV tax credit.

In a statement, the Union of Concerned Scientists criticized Trump’s “attack” on science, saying, “Standards incentivizing lower tailpipe emissions and higher fuel efficiency for cars and trucks have been a cornerstone in the fight against air pollution, successfully reducing global warming pollution smog and soot, while saving consumers billions of dollars at the gas pump. Rescinding these lifesaving standards places fossil fuel industry interests above all else and would be devastating for people and the planet.”

The New York Times’ Lisa Friedman outlines other climate-related orders signed on Monday, including one that withdraws the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and another that attempts to unlock more federal lands for oil drilling and fossil fuel extraction by declaring a national “energy emergency.” According to Friedman, “Collectively, the executive orders put the United States on a path to increasing production of coal, oil and gas at a time when scientists say governments must rapidly pivot away from fossil fuels, the burning of which is dangerously heating the planet.” More alarmingly, “Buried deep inside Trump’s order on ‘unleashing American energy’ is a directive that would not just end climate regulations, but would also make sure no future administration could ever curb dangerous emissions from fossil fuels” by rescinding what is known as the ‘endangerment finding.’

The majority of Trump’s executive orders are expected to face legal challenges and, even if valid, will require time-consuming processes to repeal and change regulations.