Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
The Trump administration canceled two permitted US wind energy projects and agreed to refund millions to the companies if they reinvest in oil and gas development instead. This action shifts federal energy policy away from renewable energy toward fossil fuels, reducing clean energy infrastructure and investment opportunities for American companies.
Trump administration officials terminated a federal criminal investigation into potential Clean Water Act violations by coal mining operations owned by Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV), a close presidential ally. The killed investigation had examined multistate mining operations run largely by Justice's son, removing legal jeopardy for a major Republican donor and Senate ally.
On July 29, 2020, the Trump administration signed an authorization allowing TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to operate and maintain existing pipeline facilities at the international boundary between the United States and Canada. The action permits continued operation of pipeline infrastructure at the US-Canada border crossing. The direct effect was to enable ongoing crude oil transport across the US-Canada border through existing Keystone Pipeline facilities.
On April 14, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13915, which established the order of succession for positions within the Department of the Interior. The order designates which officials assume leadership if the Secretary of the Interior becomes unable to perform duties. This affects the chain of command for managing federal lands, natural resources, and Native American affairs.
On February 19, 2020, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2020-04089 directing federal agencies to increase water supplies to California. The memorandum instructed the Department of Interior and Army Corps of Engineers to maximize water deliveries through state and federal water projects. Confirmed effects included increased water allocations to Central Valley agricultural and urban water districts in 2020.
The Trump administration eliminated automatic protections for threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, requiring case-by-case determination instead of blanket coverage. Previously, species classified as threatened received the same legal protections as endangered species. This change removes safeguards for hundreds of at-risk animal and plant species and their habitats across the United States.
On March 29, 2019, the Trump administration signed an order authorizing TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline facilities at the international boundary between the United States and Canada. The order granted the company permission to proceed with building the cross-border pipeline infrastructure. The pipeline began transporting crude oil from Canada through the U.S. in 2020, affecting oil supply chains and environmental conditions in states along the route, particularly in Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13855 on December 21, 2018, directing federal agencies to actively manage forests, rangelands, and other federal lands to reduce wildfire risk. The order established procedures for increased timber harvesting, vegetation management, and prescribed burns on federal lands. Implementation occurred through updated Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management protocols affecting land management practices on approximately 640 million acres of federal land.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-24027 on October 26, 2018, establishing Camp Nelson National Monument in Kentucky. The proclamation designated approximately 6,271 acres of federal land as a national monument to preserve the Civil War-era site where formerly enslaved people sought refuge and served as soldiers and laborers. The designation protects the historic land from future development and makes it available for public visitation and educational purposes.
President Trump signed Proclamation 2018-23416 on October 19, 2018, designating a national week to recognize forest products industries. The proclamation calls for Americans to observe National Forest Products Week and recognize the economic and social contributions of the forest products sector. The proclamation has no direct regulatory impact on Americans beyond its observational designation.