Trump’s Energy Policies: A Review
July 20 marks six months since President Trump began his second term. Central to his campaign was a commitment to enhance the fossil fuel and nuclear sectors while dismantling what he called the “new green fraud.” So, how well has he fared in his first semester in terms of policy setting and execution? Overall, quite well, though there are some areas of concern.
In terms of establishing policies, the president deserves an A-Plus. He has signed various executive orders aimed at bolstering fossil fuels and nuclear energy, while also seeking to roll back what he views as unnecessary regulations associated with climate hoaxes and “environmental justice.”
Moreover, Trump has retracted numerous executive orders from the Biden administration concerning energy and the environment.
His Cabinet, particularly the Departments of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency, has also announced measures to enforce these executive orders. Even agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have shifted their focus. The entire research division of the EPA, once a point of contention, has been dismantled. Reflecting on my journey since the 1990s, I remember battling these issues from the start. It’s somewhat surreal to see these changes unfolding.
The current administration has taken an extensive approach to push the climate agenda forward, while Trump has made substantial progress in winding it back. For instance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has publicly stated the Department of Defense’s stance that “climate change doesn’t do anything.”
Everything considered, what Trump has accomplished thus far is impressive, especially for someone like me who has long been invested in these issues. I honestly didn’t expect a president to have this depth of understanding and determination to tackle such directives.
When it comes to implementation, Trump scores another A-Plus. His EPA utilized the Congressional Review Act to eliminate California’s electric vehicle mandates, leading to the rollbacks of federal regulations that were in place for decades.
On top of that, Congress passed a landmark bill, which aimed to cut climate spending by half, a move not seen previously. It’s hard to fathom that Republicans could even reduce such financial commitments, let alone by $500 billion.
Even more astonishing, the bill effectively annulled decades-old fuel economy standards, meaning manufacturers will no longer face penalties for noncompliance. Additionally, subsidies for electric vehicles are set to cease by September 30 of this year.
All these achievements within just six months feel remarkable, almost miraculous. Yet, there are still significant challenges to address.
It’s crucial for Trump to ensure that his directives are fully executed and withstand scrutiny from the judiciary. My experience with the air quality transition team during Trump’s initial term taught me how slow some deregulations could be and how vulnerable they were to reversal by subsequent administrations or federal courts.
One example that particularly irks me is the Trump administration’s inability to reverse the regulations affecting the glider truck industry established by the Obama administration. Despite Trump’s orders to his EPA heads, resistance persisted, and the industry remains burdened.
Furthermore, there’s a pressing issue regarding influential insiders. In his first term, Trump was advised to approve a copper mine in Alaska, but just recently he imposed tariffs to support domestic industry, which contradicts this earlier position. Influencers close to him have even worked to amend key provisions in his legislation.
Ultimately, while Trump aims to unleash American energy, he also faces pressure from various interest groups. Blocking the construction of a natural gas plant in Tennessee illustrates the pushback he contends with, even when such projects are needed, as not every community has the influence to sway decisions at the top.
In summary, Trump’s policies and implementation have shown great promise. Let’s hope that this positive trend continues.
