President Trump’s Executive Order Hinders Progress Toward a Clean Economy, Risks Jobs, and Targets Civil Servants
President Donald Trump today issued an executive order repealing several Biden-era climate measures, efforts to address systemic racial and environmental injustice, efforts to position the nation as a leader in the clean vehicle sector, and protections for civil servants.
In the executive order, which dismantled several of former President Biden’s executive orders, Trump:
- Repealed the Biden administration’s executive order on tackling climate change, which included a provision to assist energy communities.
- Paused implementation of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
- Ended the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a policy that 40% of the benefits of all federal investments must go to disadvantaged communities.
- Repealed an executive order setting a national goal for electric vehicles (EVs) to make up half of new cars and trucks sales by 2030.
- Reinstated Schedule F, an artifact of his first term under which federal employees in policy-determining, policymaking, and policy-advocating positions can be terminated at will.
Following the announcement of these actions, the BlueGreen Alliance issued a statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh:
“It is telling, but not surprising, that President Trump would target workers and underserved communities and snuff out efforts to clean up our air and water as one of his first acts in office. BGA stands in solidarity with the civil servants and all the workers whose livelihoods are threatened by this order.
“Our country, and the world, cannot afford setbacks in the fight against climate change. We should be using everything within our power to reduce emissions and grow clean energy in ways that create and maintain good-paying jobs. With this action, Trump has pulled us from a path that not only secured clean air and water for future generations but also put millions of good jobs into the U.S. economy in clean manufacturing and the construction of clean energy projects. We are disappointed that Trump chose to launch his second term with an attack against working people and our environment.”