Attorney General Bonta Strongly Opposes Trump Administration’s Efforts to Rescind Postal Service NEPA Regulations

OAKLAND - Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general, cities, and counties in submitting a comment letter to the United States Postal Service (USPS) opposing its interim final rule that weakens its implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The rule rescinds most of USPS's NEPA regulations and replaces them with non-binding internal procedures that omit crucial provisions, curtail public involvement in NEPA reviews, and identify vague and overly broad categorical exclusions from NEPA requirements. In the comment letter, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that USPS should retract this final interim rule that will lead to less-informed decision making about the environmental impacts of major federal actions nationwide.

"NEPA's protections are in place to ensure that federal development does not compromise the safety, wellbeing, or sustainability of our environment and the populations that inhabit it. When environmental impacts are ignored or crucial opinions are left out of the decision-making process, our communities bear the burden," said Attorney General Bonta. "Uninformed decisions manifest in polluted air, compromised water, and overall greater climate risks that get passed down to future generations. We're urging the Trump Administration to immediately withdraw its rule and implement the core provisions of NEPA that prioritize transparency and public accountability."

Enacted in 1969, NEPA requires federal agencies to thoroughly analyze and publicly disclose the environmental impacts of proposed federal actions - projects that are built, funded, or approved by the federal government - and identify feasible alternatives that could avoid potential negative effects. By requiring thorough environmental review ahead of major federal actions, NEPA has helped regulatory agencies and the American people evaluate and understand how such projects impact the environment and public health. NEPA also requires agencies to accept and consider public comments when approving major federal projects, giving communities a voice on federal actions that may affect them. Across the country, Americans have benefited from increased safety and preservation of natural resources as a result of NEPA's review process.

In an effort to reach the goals set forth in President Trump's Executive Order "Unleashing American Energy," the Trump Administration has taken dramatic steps to undercut NEPA review. On September 25, 2026, USPS published its interim final rule that rescinds the majority of USPS's NEPA regulations and replaces them with non-binding guidance. The rule also creates categorical exclusions exempting USPS from NEPA's requirements for certain categories of actions - including for purchases and fuel conversion of vehicles with comparable or improved relative fuel efficiency and air emissions, and for certain purchase or sale of existing facilities - unless USPS finds extraordinary circumstances apply.

In the comment letter, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition assert that:

• The non-binding NEPA procedures that replace USPS's previous NEPA regulations are contrary to the law and purpose of NEPA.
• The new non-binding procedures do not require USPS to allow all states, Tribal, or local governments that may be affected by USPS's proposed actions to comment on draft NEPA reviews, curtailing the ability of states and the public to evaluate and participate in the decision-making process for major federal actions undertaken by USPS.
• Without robust NEPA regulations, the coalition states will shoulder an increased burden to evaluate USPS's actions, because non-binding procedures can be unilaterally altered, making it difficult for the states and the public to determine which procedures apply to a project.

• Multiple categorical exclusions established by the rule, exempting USPS from preparing a full NEPA review, are drafted too broadly and include actions that require case-by-case analyses of their potential environmental impacts.

In sending today's comment letter, Attorney General Bonta, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Washington Attorney General Nicholas W. Brown co-lead the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, along with the Harris County Attorney and Corporation Counsel of New York City.