Trump’s ‘deep cuts’ to environmental protection

US President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by aggressive policy shifts that prioritise fossil fuel expansion while dismantling climate initiatives and diversity programmes.

Within his first 100 days, President Trump — a known climate-change denier — enacted 145 actions to dismantle environmental protections, surpassing the total from his entire first term.

These actions include reversing Biden-era climate rules, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, and promoting fossil fuel extraction. Executive orders have fast-tracked drilling in protected regions, reduced pollution limits, and undermined regulations on vehicle emissions and clean energy initiatives, UK's the Guardian reported.

Additionally, the administration has intensified legal efforts against state-led climate initiatives. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sought court injunctions to prevent states like Michigan and Hawaii from filing lawsuits against fossil fuel companies for climate damages. The DOJ also filed suits against "climate superfund" laws in Vermont and New York, which seek significant industry compensation.

On 20 January, Trump signed Executive Order 14151, titled 'Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing', directing the termination of all federal DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programmes. This order mandated agencies to report DEI-related employees and activities, leading to widespread layoffs and the removal of DEI content from federal websites.

Trump’s recent budget cuts — part of his broader push to dismantle environmental protections — are expected to have significant negative impacts on the US environment. Here's how:

Cuts to the environmental protection agency (EPA)

Trump has proposed slashing the EPA’s budget by up to 30 per cent, targeting: Climate research programmes; clean air and water enforcement; environmental justice offices.

Impact: Reduced funding means fewer inspections of polluters, weakened enforcement of clean air/water laws, and slower responses to environmental disasters.

Boosting fossil fuel development

While cutting environmental programmes, Trump’s budget increases support for:

Oil and gas drilling (especially on federal lands); pipeline expansion; permission for coal projects

Impact: This encourages carbon-intensive development, worsens air pollution, and undermines climate mitigation efforts.

Weakening of conservation programmes

Funding for the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and wildlife conservation programmes has been cut or frozen.

Impact: Less protection for endangered species, increased risk of wildfires, and deterioration of national parks due to understaffing and maintenance backlogs.

Climate change denial in policy

Many budget documents and agency directives under Trump omit references to climate change, defund climate science, and halt adaptation planning.

Impact: This severely undermines the federal government's ability to plan for and respond to climate risks such as extreme weather, sea level rise, and crop failures.

Trump’s budget cuts are widely viewed as a rollback of decades of environmental progress. While supporters argue these cuts reduce federal overreach and promote energy independence, critics warn they endanger public health, biodiversity, and climate stability.