Concetta scrutinises Trump’s transition team’s plans to reverse environmental protections, increase fossil fuel production, weaken climate initiatives, withdraw from Paris, end pollution reduction programs, and establish an energy czar, exclusively for Different Truths.
President-elect Donald J. Trump’s transition team is developing an agenda that could drastically alter the nation’s environmental and energy policies. Guided by experienced Washington insiders, former lobbyists, and cabinet officials, the team is poised to reverse key environmental protections implemented during the Biden administration, focusing instead on expanding fossil fuel production and weakening climate initiatives.
Leading the effort are individuals such as David Bernhardt, a former oil lobbyist and Interior Department head under Trump, and Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist who led the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during Trump’s first term. Both are working to ensure the swift dismantling of federal climate and environmental protection.
The transition team has reportedly drafted executive orders and proclamations targeting climate policies, including plans to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement and end programs to reduce pollution in underserved communities. Biden’s environmental justice initiative, which aimed to direct clean energy benefits to underserved areas, will also be eliminated. Additionally, national monument boundaries, such as those of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah, are expected to be redrawn to allow for expanded drilling and mining.
Trump’s team intends to revoke California’s waiver allowing stricter pollution standards and end the Biden administration’s pause on permitting new natural gas export facilities. Plans are also underway to establish a White House “energy czar” to coordinate fossil fuel-friendly policies across federal agencies.
The relocation of federal employees is another significant focus. There is discussion about moving the EPA headquarters out of Washington, D.C., as part of a broader effort to decentralize federal agencies, like previous relocations under Trump’s first term. Critics argue this would cause disruption rather than improve efficiency, as many EPA staff already work outside the capital.
Potential candidates for leading environmental agencies include individuals with strong ties to fossil fuel industries. David Bernhardt is a prominent figure in crafting these policies and could return to the administration in a high-ranking position. Others being considered for leadership roles include former Interior Department officials and Republican senators with pro-industry stances.
During Trump’s first term, Bernhardt and Wheeler oversaw significant rollbacks of environmental regulations, such as opening millions of acres of public lands for fossil fuel extraction and weakening emissions standards. The upcoming administration aims to replicate these actions, taking cues from the Biden administration’s efficiency in implementing climate-focused policies, but with a reversed agenda focused on deregulation and increased resource exploitation.
As Trump’s transition team continues its work, its priorities reflect a sharp departure from current environmental policies, emphasizing fossil fuel production and the dismantling of climate protections. These changes are expected to reshape the nation’s environmental landscape, sparking debates over the balance between economic growth and environmental stewardship.
Sources:
Davenport, Coral and Friedman, Lisa. (2024). With Ready Orders and Ak Energy Czar, Trump Plots Pivot to Fossil Fuels. New York Times Newsletter. A Climate Change https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/briefing/donald-trump-climate-policies.html?smid=nytcore-android-share
Friedman, Lisa. (2024). Trump Transition. New York Times Newsletter. A Climate Change. A Climate Change https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/briefing/donald-trump-climate-policies.html?unlocked_article_code=1.i04.ZNKo.DFmSgv-RzDFH
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