Trump accelerates fossil fuel expansion as Democrats push back
President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency has fast-tracked oil and gas development by easing environmental regulations. Democrats are mounting legal challenges.
Michael Phillis and Jennifer McDermott report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Trump’s order expedites fossil fuel projects by weakening environmental reviews and lifting restrictions, aiming to boost domestic energy production and exports.
- The administration has moved to repeal methane fees, cut U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staff, and challenge regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, raising concerns about long-term environmental oversight.
- Democrats attempted to overturn Trump's "energy emergency" declaration in the Senate, calling it a political move rather than a genuine emergency, but their resolution failed in a 52-47 vote.
Key quote:
“I think they are going to accomplish what no other administration has been able to do in terms of crippling the institutional capacity of the federal government to protect public health, to conserve national resources to save endangered species.”
— Pat Parenteau, professor emeritus, Vermont Law & Graduate School
Why this matters:
Trump’s policies could significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions by expanding drilling and curbing renewable energy incentives. The rollback of environmental protections threatens ecosystems, making species at risk of extinction even more vulnerable. As funding is slashed, federal agencies are losing their ability to enforce safeguards.
Meanwhile, efforts to slow renewable energy projects may leave the U.S. more reliant on fossil fuels at a time when global demand for clean energy is rising, putting the country at a competitive disadvantage in the longer term. With 2024 recorded as the hottest year yet, the administration’s moves may further distance the U.S. from international climate goals.
