The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, currently bolstered by recent laws and regulations on climate and toxic chemicals, could see sweeping rollbacks if Donald Trump wins the 2024 election, according to plans outlined by Trump allies.
Lisa Friedman reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- The Biden administration has strengthened EPA regulations, banning toxic chemicals and enforcing stricter climate laws, but Trump's allies plan to undo these policies.
- Former Trump officials propose cutting EPA’s budget, firing career staff and dismantling programs aimed at pollution in vulnerable communities.
- Many Biden-era environmental regulations face legal uncertainty, as a conservative-leaning federal judiciary may challenge them.
Key quote:
"Everything that we did in terms of paring back and reining in the already-bloated agency is undone.”
— Mandy Gunasekara, chief of staff at the EPA during the Trump administration
Why this matters:
The future of environmental protections, particularly those addressing toxic chemicals and climate change, hinges on the 2024 election outcome. A shift back to deregulation may increase pollution impacts, especially in low-income and minority communities.
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