An Unprecedented Assault on Environmental Protections in Trump’s Second Presidency

In the first 100 days of his second presidency, Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented campaign to dismantle environmental protections in the United States. His administration has initiated 145 actions to weaken or repeal rules safeguarding clean air, clean water, public health, and the climate—surpassing the total number of environmental rollbacks carried out during his entire first term.

The measures target nearly every major environmental policy, including regulations on pollution, climate change, wildlife protection, and land conservation. Since Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, the administration has pursued deregulation at a rate of more than one action per day, according to legal analyses and official announcements.

Although many of these actions remain incomplete and face significant legal challenges, experts warn that their scale and speed are unprecedented. “The deregulatory ambition of this administration is staggering,” said Michael Burger, a climate law expert at Columbia University, noting that many rollbacks bypass established legal procedures.

Through executive orders and agency directives, the administration has dismantled key Biden-era climate initiatives, frozen climate spending, withdrawn the US from the Paris climate agreement, and begun rewriting pollution standards for vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities. Large areas of land, including parts of the Arctic, have been opened to oil and gas drilling, while protections for national forests, endangered species, marine sanctuaries, and national monuments are being weakened.

Many of the policies explicitly favor the fossil fuel industry, a major donor to Trump’s campaign. The administration has rolled back limits on greenhouse gas emissions and toxic pollutants, revived coal production, expanded gas exports, and blocked approvals for new solar and wind projects. A White House spokesperson defended the moves as “unleashing American energy like never before,” claiming historic progress at record speed.

However, analysts point out that the US was already producing record levels of oil and gas before these changes and had become a leading global exporter. Scientists warn that continued reliance on fossil fuels is accelerating climate change, driving extreme heat, floods, droughts, and other disasters.

Climate advocates have reacted with alarm. Jason Rylander of the Center for Biological Diversity described the administration’s actions as “breathtaking” in scope, accusing Trump of prioritizing fossil fuel interests over science and public health. In contrast, oil industry leaders have praised the administration for advancing their long-standing policy goals.

Legal challenges are mounting nationwide, with courts already blocking several actions for failing to follow required procedures. On a single day in March, the Environmental Protection Agency announced 31 rollbacks to pollution standards that were projected to save 200,000 lives, including reconsidering whether greenhouse gases pose a public health threat.

Experts warn that even if many of these efforts are ultimately overturned, the sustained pressure on environmental regulation could leave lasting damage. “The result will be fewer protections and greater harm to public health,” Burger said. “It’s that simple.”

Trump speaks next to coal industry workers, on the day he signs energy-related executive orders at the White House in Washington DC on 8 April. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters