President Trump’s Executive Orders and The Impact to Environmental Rules and Regulations

President Donald Trump began his first week in office by signing a multitude of Executive Orders “Orders,” some of which impact federal environmental laws or policies. Here is a partial list of the laws affected by the Orders:

1. Freeze funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 

• Certain funding disbursements from the two laws are pending a 90-day review of spending recommendations. Certain funds may be released after consultation with the Office of Management and Budget.

2. 60-Day Moratorium on New Rules

• All agencies and departments must refrain from proposing or issuing new rules not yet published in the Federal Register.
• Agencies must also postpone for 60 days the effective date for rules that have been published but haven’t yet taken effect.

3. Declare a National Energy Emergency

• A groundbreaking measure that could unlock new powers to suspend certain environmental rules or expedite permitting of certain mining projects.

4. Offshore Drilling

• Attempt to reverse Biden’s ban on offshore drilling for 625 million acres of federal waters.

5. Repeal of Tailpipe Pollution Regulations

• Begin the repealof Biden-era regulations on tailpipe pollution from cars and light trucks, which have encouraged automakers to manufacture more electric vehicles.

6. Rollback Energy Efficiency Regulations

• Roll back energy-efficiency regulationsfor dishwashers, shower heads, and gas stoves.

7. Open the Alaska wilderness to more oil and gas drilling.

8. Restart reviewsof new export terminals for liquefied natural gas (“LNG”).

• This was paused by the Biden Administration in early 2024 to study the environmental impacts of LNG exports.

9. Offshore Wind Farms

• Halt the leasing of federal waters for offshore wind farms.

10. Eliminate Environmental Justice Programs

• Across the federal government. These programs were aimed at protecting poor communities from excess pollution.

11. PFAS Rule No Longer Listed as Under Review

• A Pending Rule meant to set discharge limits on certain PFAS is no longer listed as being under review on the government’s regulatory calendar site.

12. The Review of Energy-Related Regulations and Rules

• All agencies must conduct an “immediate review” of actions believed to “impose an undue burden” on the development and use of certain energy sources. The order calls for identification of any regulations, policies, guidance documents, or other materials that would negatively impact the development or use of oil, gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, nuclear energy, or critical minerals.

13. Paris Agreement Withdrawal

• Federal agencies, including the EPA, will need to submit a plan for how to “revoke or rescind policies” related to budgeting for or implementing aspects of the Paris Agreement.

14. Greenhouse Gas Working Group Disbanded

• The Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases created during the Obama administration will cease operations.

15. Federal Hiring Freeze

• Vacant federal civilian positions won’t be filled, and no new positions will be created. The freeze includes the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This Order also ends remote work for federal employees.

The Environmental Law team at Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is monitoring the evolving laws that are affecting businesses, projects, and individuals. Our team is ready to assist if you encounter environmental trouble. To learn more about this post or any other environmental matter, please feel free to contact me at mpschroeck@norris-law.com.

About the Author- Law of the Land

Monica Perez Schroeck works with clients on environmental and land use issues, including those associated with site remediation, environmental due diligence, solid waste disposal, clean air and water regulations, insurance coverage, and environmental health and safety compliance. She regularly provides strategic counsel to clients on matters involving federal and state environmental statutes, such as the New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act, the Industrial Site Recovery Act, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1985, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Coastal Area Facility Review Act, and Environmental Justice compliance. Schroeck has also worked on several Superfund litigation matters in various federal jurisdictions, representing clients in administrative claims before state and federal agencies including the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.