Media Contact:
Alan Septoff, (202) 271-2355, aseptoff@earthworks.org
Background:
Today President Trump signed an Executive Order to weaken environmental review and community oversight in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The order is the Trump Administration’s latest attempt to use the COVID-19 pandemic to aggressively roll back environmental and public safety regulations.
Below is a statement from Lauren Pagel, Earthworks Policy Director.
“This president continues to dismantle our democratic institutions just days after his agents fired tear gas on peaceful protesters outraged by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many other Black Americans.
“President Trump is exploiting a global pandemic to further marginalize voices calling for a more just and equitable society. Today’s Executive Order is another example in far too long a list of how this Administration runs roughshod over our basic values: an attempt to deliberately silence people in decisions that immediately impact their lives. Public comments draw from the lived experiences and long histories of communities harmed by previous land use decisions, and ultimately result in better environmental and health outcomes. We call on the president to rescind this ill-conceived order out or respect for taxpayers and the environment.”