By STAFF REPORTS
As the Trump Administration continues to take shape, several actions in the first few months have given an idea of how the new leadership will approach environmental policy matters.
In early February, newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo rescinding U.S. Department of Justice “environmental justice” memoranda issued under the Biden Administration.
U.S. Attorneys’ offices were given until only a few days to comply with the one-page memo, which rescinded two specific prior-issued memoranda by former Attorney General Merrick Garland:
- Actions to Advance Environmental Justice (May 5, 2022)
- Comprehensive Environmental Justice Strategy (May 5, 2022)
The order also included rescinding any other Attorney General memoranda, guidance, or similar directive that implement the prior administration’s “environmental justice” agenda. Bondi wrote that she was writing the memo, “to ensure that the Department engages in the even-handed administration of justice.”
“Further, the heads of all components and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are to rescind immediately any memoranda, guidance, or similar directive applicable to their component or office,” Bondi wrote. “Going forward, the Department will evenhandedly enforce all federal civil and criminal laws, including environmental laws.”
These actions follow President Donald Trump’s move to rescind several executive orders from 2021 and 2023 by former President Joe Biden related to climate change and environmental justice. In addition, NPR reported recently that nearly 170 employees at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) were placed on paid administrative leave.
The office was created in 1992 under President George H.W. Bush with a few dozen people and a focus on environmental justice and health expanded during the Clinton and Obama administrations. NPR reported that in 2002, EPA merged two other offices into OEJECR. By last year, the office boasted more than 200 staff between EPA headquarters and regional staff.
Bloomberg reported that OEJECR during the Biden Administration ran a conflict prevention and resolution center, an office of resource management, a community support branch, an office of policy and program development section, and an external civil rights compliance division.
Bondi was sworn in on Feb. 5, the same day she issued the memo. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on the same day.
According to an EPA news release, Zeldin’s plans to focus on five key pillars:
- Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American
- Restore American Energy Dominance
- Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership
- Make the United States the Artificial Intelligence Capital of the World
- Protecting and Bringing Back American Auto Jobs
As Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency begins analysis through multiple federal agencies, it has been reported that in the prior administration, EPA awarded $2 billion to Power Forward Communities, a non-profit that reported $100 in revenue in its first three months of operations.
It was reported that in mid-February that Musk and his team had gained “read-only” access to EPA Acquisition System, which details the agency’s contracts and spending. It is unclear what other DOGE actions may affect EPA.
On Feb. 23, Zeldin said on Fox News that the agency had cut 21 grants that were focused on environmental justice and what he described as DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) totaling $67 million.
“This partnership with DOGE has been outstanding,” he said. “We want the EPA to be operating as efficiently as possible and exceptionally accomplishing our mission. We’re on track.”
