Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
The EPA proposed extending the flaring window for natural gas wells from the current timeframe to 72 hours, estimated to save the industry $2.5 billion over 15 years. The action reduces environmental oversight of natural gas operations. This occurred amid a broader energy price spike, with energy costs rising 10.9% from February to March.
The Trump administration in March 2025 began offering exemptions from key Clean Air Act provisions to coal-fired power plants, chemical manufacturers, and other industrial facilities through a streamlined email-based process. The exemptions allow major polluters to bypass air quality regulations without formal public review or environmental impact assessment. This action directly reduces air quality protections for American communities near industrial facilities.
On March 1, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14225 directing increased timber harvesting on federal lands. The order expedites permitting for logging operations and reduces environmental review timelines on National Forests and Bureau of Land Management property. Confirmed direct impacts include accelerated timber sales on approximately 2 million acres of federal forest annually and reduced public comment periods for timber harvest plans.
On February 10, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14208 directing federal agencies to cease procurement of paper straws and eliminate any requirements or incentives for their use in federal facilities and programs. The order applies to all executive branch agencies' purchasing decisions and facility operations. The confirmed direct impact is that federal buildings, cafeterias, and programs will no longer purchase or distribute paper straws as of the order's implementation.
The Trump administration directed federal land management agencies to remove restrictions on hunting and trapping in national parks, wildlife refuges, and designated wilderness areas. This expands hunting access across millions of acres of federally protected lands. The action affects conservation policy, wildlife management, and recreational hunting opportunities across the United States.
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from enforcing anti-renewable energy policies against members of regional trade groups. Judge Denise Casper ruled that the plaintiffs challenging the policies were likely to succeed on their claims. The court action temporarily halts implementation of the administration's measures that would have hindered renewable energy development.
President Trump signed memos expanding domestic oil, coal, and natural gas production, citing national defense readiness concerns. The action declares inadequate fossil fuel supply a security threat and orders increased domestic energy production. This accelerates fossil fuel extraction and may increase energy costs and environmental impacts for American consumers.
The Trump administration is removing bison herds from federal grasslands in Montana to accommodate ranching interests. This action prioritizes livestock operations over wildlife conservation and tribal treaty rights. The eviction directly impacts ecological restoration efforts and Native American communities reliant on bison.
Executive Order 14153 signed on January 20, 2025, aims to expand resource extraction and development in Alaska. The order removes restrictions on oil, gas, and mineral exploration on federal lands and waters. This directly impacts Alaska's economy and Native communities while potentially affecting environmental protections and wildlife habitats.
The Trump administration approved BP's new ultra-deep oil drilling project in the Gulf of Mexico, allowing the company to drill deeper into the ocean bed. Environmental groups filed suit against the approval, citing BP's history of failures including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The project increases risks of potential environmental damage and oil spills affecting Gulf ecosystems and coastal communities.