President Donald Trump is fast-tracking efforts to dismantle environmental and energy regulations, raising alarm among legal experts who say his approach may run afoul of federal law.
Robin Bravender reports for E&E News.
In short:
- President Trump issued a February executive order instructing federal agencies to submit lists of regulations for repeal or modification by April 20, part of his plan to scale back federal oversight and enforcement.
- Legal experts warn the administration is skirting the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires public input before changes to regulations, and could face a wave of court challenges.
- Trump’s team is invoking a 1985 Supreme Court case to justify broad non-enforcement of rules during the rollback process, a strategy some lawyers argue misinterprets the court’s ruling.
Key quote:
“In all these cases, they try to bypass notice and comment rulemaking, which is very troubling and illegal.”
— Richard Revesz, former head of the White House regulatory office under President Biden
Why this matters:
Environmental regulations often serve as the last line of defense against pollution, toxic exposures, and habitat destruction. Weakening or halting enforcement of these rules — even temporarily — can lead to lasting harm. Air and water pollution regulations protect vulnerable communities, especially children and the elderly, from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Climate rules guide how the U.S. curbs greenhouse gas emissions, affecting global efforts to limit warming. Trump’s strategy to roll back regulations without public input or legal rigor could slow or halt environmental progress while destabilizing industries that have invested in compliance. Regulatory uncertainty also makes it harder for scientists, regulators, and advocates to plan for long-term health and environmental protections.
