Laws & Regulations

"U.S. environmental groups say they are hiring lawyers and preparing for a major legal showdown with President Donald Trump's administration over its rapid-fire and sweeping efforts to sidestep federal regulations on oil, gas and coal development. The preparations will pose a test for the Trump administration’s strategy since January of relying mainly on emergency authorities and executive orders to slash what it views as obstructions to a surge in fossil fuel energy production."

"A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to rehire all Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Network staff for now, and he said all congressional funding must resume to the outlets, which had been effectively shuttered by the administration."

"The Trump administration is set to cancel tens of millions of dollars in grants to scientists studying environmental hazards faced by children in rural America, among other health issues, according to internal emails written by senior officials at the Environmental Protection Agency."

"For years a textile mill gave farmers its sewage sludge as free fertilizer. Today the land is full of “forever chemicals.”"

"Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has given a former oil executive and aide to Elon Musk broad latitude to cut costs and consolidate work within his vast department, which oversees more than 500 million acres of land across the United States."

"EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said he does not think the government should broadly reconsider climate advocacy groups’ tax-exempt status." "The EPA administrator also signaled that he was not in a rush to announce reduction-in-force plans, saying,“We’re just trying to get it right.”" 

"The Everglades is more than just swamps, fan boats and alligators and restoration efforts impact more than the land between Florida’s east and west coasts. Florida Bay, a body of water located between the southern end of mainland Florida and the Florida Keys, makes up about a third of Everglades National Park."

"In a move energy advocates say will increase electric bills for Louisiana residents and allow the state’s utilities to keep earning money for electricity they don’t provide, Louisiana’s energy regulators voted 3-2 Wednesday to scrap plans for an independently operated energy efficiency program more than 14 years in the making."

"U.S. oil producers are stuck between President Donald Trump’s policies, benefiting from relaxed environmental regulations but facing weakening oil prices as tariffs weigh on the global economy."

"EPA rebuffed attempts to make public its initial downsizing and reorganization plan submitted for White House review." "The Phase 1 “Agency RIF and Reorganization Plan,” which was due at the White House on March 13, remains shrouded in secrecy."