🌎 On Earth Day, Trump Continues to Put Big Oil and Corporate Polluters Over Protecting American Jobs Arrow

On Earth Day, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

"At every turn, Trump has backed Big Oil and corporate polluters over working families - even when it means higher costs, fewer jobs, and threats to clean air and water. Instead of fighting for hardworking Americans, Trump has gutted clean energy standards, putting thousands of Americans' jobs at risk and costing our economy billions. As Americans face deadly climate catastrophes, Trump is instead more interested in slashing critical protections and programs while he helps line Big Oil's pockets. This Earth Day, one thing is clear: Trump will never protect us and our future."

After Big Oil donated millions to support his campaign, Trump handed them "a win" by cutting clean energy standards that could have saved working families billions - all while undermining job-creating projects.

The Guardian: "Fossil fuel interests poured $96m into Donald Trump's re-election campaign and affiliated political action committees, the report found. Much of that was covered by megadonor oil billionaires, such as the fracking magnate Harold Hamm, the pipeline mogul Kelcy Warren and the drilling tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand. …

"Those donors stand to profit from priorities set by Senate-confirmed Trump cabinet appointees, such Chris Wright, the fracking CEO who was tapped to head the Department of Energy, and Lee Zeldin"

The Hill: "Oil and gas tycoons made significant contributions to the Trump campaign after the former president asked the industry for $1 billion to support his reelection bid - and reportedly said it would be a 'deal' for them to do so."

Utility Drive: "The U.S. Department of Energy will postpone the implementation of several appliance energy efficiency standards finalized by the Biden administration, the agency said Feb. 14. The natural gas sector hailed the decision as a win for consumer choice while efficiency advocates warn the decision could add billions to utility bills."

Washington Post: "Billions of dollars in clean energy projects have been canceled since Donald Trump took office again. …

"But even before President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on imports, many of those projects were being canceled - leaving thousands of jobs and the shift to clean energy in doubt.

"According to data from Atlas Public Policy, a policy research group, more projects were canceled in the first quarter of 2025 than in the previous two years combined. Those cancellations include a $1 billion factory in Georgia that would have made thermal barriers for batteries and a $1.2 billion lithium-ion battery factory in Arizona."

Trump continues to put corporate polluters over American lives by rolling back key protections for safe air and water access.

CNN: "The Trump administration announced its intent to roll back major climate policies Wednesday, including rules that target pollution from vehicles and power plants, in a major blow to America's progress on clean air, clean water and climate action."

New York Times: "E.P.A. Set to Cancel Grants Aimed at Protecting Children From Toxic Chemicals"

"The grants are designed to address a range of issues, including improving the health of children in rural America who have been exposed to pesticides from agriculture and other pollution; reducing exposure to wildfire smoke; and preventing 'forever chemicals' from contaminating the food supply. …

"Many grants involve issues that affect regions of the country where voters supported Mr. Trump."

WRAL News: "Trump administration scraps EPA rule to limit toxic PFAS pollution, sparking concern in NC"

Environmental Protection Agency: "Current peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to:

"Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women. … Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes. … Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers … [and] Reduced ability of the body's immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response."

New York Times: "Now, the Trump administration is offering companies an extraordinary out: Send an email, and they might be given permission by President Trump to bypass the new restrictions, as well as other major clean-air rules."

Reuters: "Trump moves to unwind over two dozen US air, water regulations"

"[The rollbacks] are also destined to weaken bedrock environmental rules imposed by past presidencies to protect air and water quality and fight climate change."

The Hill: "EPA to steer environmental enforcement officers away from energy companies"

Trump's reckless mass firings and funding cuts are risking Americans' lives and livelihoods during increasingly "erratic, extreme, and costly" weather events.

CNN: "The Trump administration intends to eliminate the research arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, close all weather and climate labs and eviscerate its budget along with several other NOAA offices, according to internal documents obtained by CNN. …

"The cuts would devastate weather and climate research as weather is becoming more erratic, extreme and costly. It would cripple the US industries - including agriculture - that depend on free, accurate weather and climate data and expert analysis. It could also halt research on deadly weather, including severe storms and tornadoes."

Washington Post: "At least 300 National Weather Service employees are expected to take the latest federal buyout offer by a Thursday deadline, departures the agency's top official told employees could leave many forecast offices around the country with half the meteorologists they need to properly monitor extreme weather threats. …

"While there are many sources of weather forecasts, from smartphone apps to broadcast radio and TV, the Weather Service's data and predictions undergird them all. The agency is also responsible for warning the public when a tornado, hurricane or other extreme weather threat is imminent."

Gallup: "Thirty-seven percent of U.S. adults say they have been personally affected by an extreme weather event in the area where they live within the past two years, compared with 33% in Gallup's prior measures in 2022 and 2023."

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