Trump announces destructive fossil fuel agenda

On Day 1, the Trump Administration wasted no time advancing a dangerous fossil fuel agenda that prioritizes oil and gas profits over the health and wellbeing of communities and public lands. 

By declaring a national energy emergency and directing agencies to “unleash” fossil fuel production, the Trump administration is aiming to open more doors to unnecessary oil and gas drilling across public lands, even at a time when oil and gas production on public lands is at a record high.  

In response to the news, The Wilderness Society issued the following statement: 

“People deserve a swift and urgent transition to a clean, renewable energy economy, not more handouts that make it easier for oil and gas companies to reap record profits and offload the costs of pollution and ecosystem destruction onto communities and public lands,” said Kim Stevens, Climate Advocacy Director at The Wilderness Society. “People are hurting right now because of the U.S.’ dependence on a fossil fuel economy -- whether it’s choking on air pollution or suffering from fires and hurricanes. At the same time, President Trump intends on taking us deeper into our fossil fuel dependency at the expense of healthy communities, public lands, and a stable climate. We need leaders in Congress and everyone who values public lands, cultural resources, and our climate to do everything they can to stop this dangerous and misguided attack. There’s no time to waste.” 

The energy emergency declaration and executive order directing the unleashing of energy include the following announcements: 

• Directs agencies to: 
  • facilitate energy production on federal lands, including through use of eminent domain or authority under the Defense Production Act 
  • determine whether to use emergency provisions to expedite Clean Water Act permitting approvals for energy-related projects 
  • Use emergency provisions under the Endangered Species Act to facilitate expedited approval of energy projects 
• Requires an immediate review of all agency actions that may “burden the development of domestic energy resources,” with attention primarily on fossil fuels 
• Requires the Attorney General to determine whether to stay or take other action against Biden-era rules subject to litigation 
• Revokes President Biden’s climate and environment and energy related executive orders 
• Eliminates the climate corps 
• Proposes rescinding the Council on Environmental Quality’s National Environmental Policy Act regulations 
• Directs streamlining of NEPA reviews 
• Disbands the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions interagency working group and social cost estimates 
• Requires reassessment of any public lands mineral withdrawals 

The science, global markets and the people of this country are saying we need to keep pushing forward to build on the significant climate progress we’ve already made, not fast track dangerous energy agendas that gives handouts to polluting industries at the expense of the climate and our communities. 

To speak with the Wilderness Society’s policy and legal experts, contact Emily Denny, Communications Manager at edenny@tws.org