It’s not simply you: It’s virtually inconceivable to maintain up with the tumult and chaos issuing from Washington, D.C. Beneath the second Trump administration, funding freezes, regulatory rollbacks and sweeping govt orders are unfolding at file pace.
This ongoing tracker runs down the newest strikes that have an effect on the enterprise of sustainability, since Trump inked a battery of govt orders the day he was inaugurated, together with six that instantly modified the federal stance on power, local weather and sustainability. We can be updating and republishing this information within the weeks and months forward. Buckle up.
March 12, 2025
Gates-funded local weather group reduces employees, shutters coverage arm
Breakthrough Power, the local weather group launched and bankrolled by Microsoft founder Invoice Gates, slashed its employees and successfully eradicated its U.S. coverage operation, in response to a report in The New York Instances. A spokesperson did say the group’s “work on this space will proceed and is concentrated on serving to drive dependable reasonably priced, clear power options that can allow individuals in all places to thrive.”
EPA launches large deregulation marketing campaign
In asserting, the “greatest deregulatory motion in U.S. historical past,” EPA chief Lee Zeldin bragged that the overhaul would “roll again trillions in regulatory prices and hidden taxes on U.S. households.” That’s debatable. What just isn’t is that this undoing of many Obama- and Biden-Period rules designed to enhance air and water high quality successfully renders moot the “P” in EPA.
March 11, 2025
Democrats blast Division of Protection for canceling local weather research
A quartet of senior Democratic senators responded to the Protection Division’s March 9 cancellation of 91 climate-impact research — and Secretary Pete Hegseth’s X publish declaring the DoD “doesn’t do local weather change crap” — with a letter calling the actions a menace to nationwide safety that put 1000’s of lives and billions of {dollars} in danger.
EPA shutters “environmental justice” workplaces
EPA chief Lee Zeldin directed his company to shut Environmental Justice Divisions in 10 regional workplaces. (The Workplace of Environmental Justice and Exterior Civil Rights in D.C. was already closed.) Zeldin described as “compelled discrimination” federal efforts to assist environmental justice, which goal communities corresponding to Louisiana’s petrochemical “most cancers alley.” He mentioned the company would “remediate these environmental points straight” — however didn’t present any particulars.
EPA spending is as much as DOGE’s discretion
Going ahead, the EPA should await a pat on the top from DOGE earlier than distributing funding that exceeds $50,000. The edict furthers EPA head Lee Zeldin’s aim of slashing greater than 65 % of his company’s spending. The announcement adopted information of the reinstatement of dozens of laid-off EPA staff as soon as Musk’s crew realized their packages have been important to American prosperity.
Trump doubles aluminum and metal tariffs, then backs away
After Ontario imposed 25 % tariffs on electrical energy it sends to northern U.S. states, Trump mentioned he would double to 50 % the tariffs on Canadian aluminum and metal (that are essential to the power transition) set to enter impact March 12. (Later the identical day, after Ontario backed down on energy worth hikes, Trump reversed himself, though the 25-percent duties stay.) He additionally reiterated his demand that Canada grow to be the 51st state.
March 10, 2025
America’s “inexperienced financial institution” sues EPA and Citibank for freezing funding
Local weather United, one of many three coalitions chosen by Biden’s EPA to lend $20 billion to native decarbonization initiatives — aka America’s “inexperienced financial institution” — sued Trump’s EPA head Lee Zeldin and Citibank for freezing the funds. In response to Local weather United, neither the EPA nor Citi produced proof to justify suspending the accounts.
China imposes retaliatory tariffs
Beijing introduced 15 % duties on hen, wheat and corn, and 10 % on soybeans, pork, beef and fruit, in response to Trump’s further 10 % blanket tariff on Chinese language items.
March 7, 2025
U.S. backs out of Simply Power Transition Partnership
The $45 billion cope with EU and different nations helped Vietnam, South Africa and Indonesia forgo fossil fuels. The U.S. exit is one other crack within the international local weather coverage setting.
March 06, 2025
Tariffs delayed once more
Trump’s on-again tariffs went off once more — for a month, a minimum of — for items from Mexico and Canada. For the second, North American provide chains for auto elements, dairy, metal, aluminum, equipment might proceed apace.
Choose unlocks funding for photo voltaic panels, grid upgrades and warmth pumps
A second federal decide blocked as unconstitutional Trump’s Jan. 27 funding freeze, of probably trillions of {dollars}, together with for clear power initiatives below the Inflation Discount Act in 22 states. The U.S. has appealed.
Fired civil servants file swimsuit
Hundreds of fired federal workers filed class motion appeals to reinstate their roles. As job cuts rose by 245 % in February, Trump put his cupboard leaders, somewhat than Musk, accountable for reductions in pressure. Musk’s DOGE crew has lower greater than 101,000 positions throughout the EPA, Division of Power, Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and different companies.
EPA seeks to loosen security guidelines
The company requested a federal courtroom to undo 2024 guidelines that required hazardous chemical crops to shore up security in case of fires, floods and different climate extremes.
March 4, 2025
North American tariffs introduced
Trump introduced 25 % tariffs on items from Mexico and Canada (10 % on Canadian oil), rocking corporations’ provide chains and threatening clean-energy initiatives.
March 1, 2025
Trump dramatically expands US timber manufacturing
An govt order referred to as upon the U.S. Forest Service, now headed by lumber trade veteran Tom Schulz, and the Bureau of Land Administration to hurry allowing processes, restrict exemptions below endangered species regulation and overview forest administration practices, aiming to “enhance the pace of forestry initiatives.”
Feb. 28, 2025
Trump berates Zelensky, a minimum of partially to safe mineral rights
The dramatic confrontation within the Oval Workplace scuttled a deal to proceed U.S. assist for Ukraine’s battle effort. The administration is attempting to strike favorable offers on Ukraine’s mineral sources, that are essential to wash tech corresponding to photo voltaic panels and batteries..
Feb. 26, 2025
EPA reconsiders local weather air pollution stance
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin moved to finish the company’s endangerment discovering, which has enabled regulation of local weather pollution below the Clear Air Act since 2009.
Feb. 25, 2025
Trump targets basic environmental regulation
The White Home Council on Environmental High quality issued a rule that might take away implementing rules for the Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act, thought-about the “Magna Carta” of environmental regulation. Public feedback will shut March 27.
Feb. 22, 2025
Authorities erases 1000’s of public datasets
Enterprise-critical data was misplaced after some 3,400 out of 308,000 datasets have been wiped from Information.gov. Included within the erasure was demographic information utilized by power corporations to foretell demand, historic climate information that helps insurers assess danger and local weather patterns thought-about by builders in constructing infrastructure.
Feb. 21, 2025
Feds shut off EV chargers
The U.S. Basic Companies Administration disconnected electrical automobile chargers in federal buildings. Its charging information for federal staff additionally went darkish, as a part of Trump’s efforts to sluggish EV adoption, following the revocation of $7,500 client EV tax credit a month earlier.
Feb. 20, 2025
U.S. cancels assist for subsequent IPCC report
The destiny of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Local weather Change’s 2029 report appears unsure after the Trump administration blocked State Division officers from visiting China to work on it.
Feb. 18, 2025
Companies unite in assist of unpolluted hydrogen incentive
Airbus, Dow and Basic Motors have been amongst 100 signers of a letter to Congress asking to maintain the 45V tax credit score, which helps fund improvement of hydrogen applied sciences.
Trump points govt order to seize coverage energy
The Federal Power Regulatory Fee was amongst companies focused by “Guaranteeing Accountability for All Companies,” which successfully grants White Home higher management over policymaking, undermining Congress’ unique intent to defend impartial companies from political affect.
Feb. 11, 2025
SEC abandons federal local weather disclosures
The Securities and Trade Fee’s local weather disclosure rule, handed in March 2024, would have compelled companies to report their greenhouse fuel emissions. Amid authorized challenges by Huge Oil, appearing Chair Mark Uyeda ordered employees to not defend the rule.
Feb. 7, 2025
Duties proceed for Chinese language imports
Trump modified his thoughts about ending a duty-free loophole on sub-$800 imports, stressing out quick style manufacturers. Three days earlier, 10 % tariffs on Chinese language imports proceeded on high of 25 % from the president’s first administration. The commerce battle leaves round economic system advocates mulling the results for home provide chains.
Feb. 6, 2025
Federal companies scrub mentions of local weather change
Web sites of the EPA, USDA and FEMA have been amongst these affected. Anxious researchers have backed up databases, and the Wayback Machine preserves trails of crumbs.
Feb. 4, 2025
DOGE overruns NOAA workplace
Members of Musk’s DOGE crew barged into the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Maryland headquarters and took management of its databases.
Jan. 27, 2025
Local weather-Sensible farming uprooted
Farmers adopting practices to stash carbon within the soil and decrease methane emissions have been left holding the bag as Washington froze the USDA’s $3.1 billion Partnerships for Local weather-Sensible Commodities. Additionally iced: grants and loans for the Rural Power for America Program (REAP), which helped farmers set up photo voltaic panels and power effectivity measures.
Jan. 21, 2025
Trump points order to roll again equality and variety measures
An govt order barred corporations with federal contracts from utilizing DEI and affirmative motion packages, reversing 60 years of Equal Employment Alternative efforts. Many companies fold DEI efforts — or mute discuss of them. Holdouts embody Apple, Costco and Patagonia.
Jan. 20, 2025
Trump Sharpies a battery of govt orders
On Day 1, Trump inked 26 govt orders. Beneath are six that instantly change the setting for sustainability professionals.
Unleashing American Power, which fast-tracked fossil gasoline initiatives.
Placing America First in Worldwide Environmental Agreements, as soon as once more ditched U.S. participation within the Paris Settlement, which many companies proceed to assist.
Declaring a Nationwide Power Emergency, which prioritized improvement of recent fossil gasoline sources.
Ending Radical and Wasteful Authorities DEI Applications and Preferencing, which, amongst different issues, put “environmental justice,” “local weather disaster” and “chief range officer” on the listing of phrases anybody who desires to do enterprise with the federal authorities ought to keep away from.
Preliminary Rescissions of Dangerous Govt Orders and Actions, which revoked Biden’s govt orders, embody erasing Justice40 efforts to assist low-income communities. Additionally up in smoke: The White Home Workplace of Home Local weather Coverage and the Nationwide Local weather Activity Drive.
Establishing and Implementing the President’s Division of Authorities Effectivity, which rebrands and retasks U.S. Digital Service.
Bonus memo: “Placing Individuals over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Present Water to Southern California”. The secretaries of Commerce and the Inside should transfer water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to southern California, even when it reduces provides for Central Valley farmers, threatens salmon and smelt, and overrides state coverage.