EPA Under a Second Trump Presidency: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
A return to the presidency by Donald Trump has raised questions about the future of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the broader landscape of environmental policy in the United States. Given Trump’s past policies and statements, his administration may pursue significant changes to the EPA’s mission, budget, and regulatory approach. This article reviews Trump’s historical approach to environmental policy, the EPA’s role in U.S. environmental protection, and what Trump’s second term may look like. Historical Context: Trump’s Environmental Policies During his presidency from 2017 to 2021, Trump prioritized deregulation as part of his broader economic agenda, particularly in industries such as energy, manufacturing, and construction. Under his administration, the EPA faced considerable restructuring and budget cuts, and many of its regulatory roles were scaled back. Some of the most notable shifts in Trump’s environmental policies included: Rollbacks of Key Regula...