President Trump signs an executive order directing the Department of Justice and other agencies to identify and end state laws limiting fossil fuels, teeing up potential court battles. Climate advocates are speaking out.   

Washington, DC – President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday, April 8, designed to engage the full power of the federal government against climate action. The new order directs the Department of Justice, in consultation with appropriate executive departments and agencies, to identify and block enforcement of all state and local laws, regulations, and actions related to climate change, including climate superfund laws and state civil lawsuits. This is Trump’s latest attempt to roll back U.S. climate policy in order to benefit the fossil fuel industry.

The executive order sets a 60-day deadline for the U.S. Attorney General to take action and provide a set of recommendations for further legislative actions. This order is a direct threat to states like Maryland and Virginia that have taken action to address climate change in recent years. The new executive order will certainly tee up court battles between the Administration and states across the nation that are working to address escalating climate threats.

Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund, issued the following statement:    

“Trump’s action is a direct attack on the American people just to appease his billionaire fossil-fuel campaign donors. Three weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal reported a meeting between Trump and oil firms where the fossil fuel industry complained about state efforts to cut pollution from fossil fuels, hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for their deception, and environmental justice policies that force transparency. Now, the fossil fuel industry has an executive order signed by the President that violates states’ rights to protect their communities from pollution. 

“Trump likes to declare trade wars, now he’s declaring a war on states. It’s hard not to see how this is a pay-for-play scheme designed to build wealth at the expense of the American people’s livelihoods. The Administration’s so-called ‘energy dominance’ policies are only going to lead to higher energy prices, dirtier air and water, and fewer jobs. We have seen this over and over again with this Administration, they have no regard for the Constitution. It’s long overdue for Congress to step in and rein in unconstitutional acts by this radical Administration.” 

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions, focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.