Washington, D.C. – The White House has intensified its efforts to scale back climate change regulations, issuing several executive orders last week aimed at eliminating or weakening existing environmental laws. These directives have sparked widespread concern among environmental groups and state governments, particularly with actions targeting state-level climate initiatives.
The recent executive orders mandate federal agencies to phase out or revoke regulations that they deem unnecessary, and instruct the Department of Justice to challenge state laws designed to combat climate change. This broad directive could impact a variety of state regulations, including California’s SB 1383, a law aimed at reducing short-lived climate pollutants, and various other state initiatives aimed at curbing landfill methane emissions.
Environmental advocates have criticized these moves as aggressive steps to dismantle protective measures against environmental pollution. Jeremy Symons, a senior advisor at the Environmental Protection Network, described the administration’s strategy as creating a “recipe of regulatory chaos” that lacks clear guidelines for industries on environmental compliance.
Previously in 2025, President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin initiated several actions against cornerstone climate policies. The administration has revisited the fundamental rationale behind the EPA’s climate rules, terminated environmental justice monitoring resources, and slowed the process for reporting industrial emissions.
One particular order by President Trump instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to cease the enforcement of state laws that address climate change and environmental justice. This not only challenges the measures that states have independently imposed but also seemingly undermines states’ rights to manage their own environmental policies.
In response to the federal government’s directive, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment expressed its intention to proceed with its regulations independently. Meanwhile, California’s Air Resources Board, known for its rigorous environmental policies like SB 1383 and its plans for new methane regulations, has yet to respond to these federal challenges.
The executive orders also target so-called climate Superfund laws, aiming to exempt polluters from financial responsibility for the greenhouse gases they emit. This sweeping directive includes identifying any state legislation that involves climate change or environmental justice initiatives for potential legal action to inhibit their enforcement.
This federal intervention has been met with resistance. The U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to tackling climate change, voiced their determination to persist with their environmental agendas. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, co-chairs of the alliance, affirmed that they would not be deterred by federal overreach.
Additionally, another executive order introduced by President Trump involves a concept called “Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting,” which sets expiration dates on regulations unless they are explicitly extended. This order affects countless federal regulations and requires them to have a conditional sunset clause, potentially expiring within up to five years.
These aggressive measures have led to a likely scenario where numerous lawsuits could challenge the administration’s policies. According to Symons, this could result in significant legal uncertainty across various industries, particularly those accustomed to stable regulatory environments.
The administration contends that these moves are necessary to eliminate what it sees as burdensome regulations that stifle economic growth and infringe on the freedoms of businesses and states. However, the sweeping changes to environmental policy signify fundamental shifts that could impact how the United States addresses climate change, environmental pollution, and the balance of state versus federal authority in the coming years.
As the administration continues to reshape its approach to environmental regulation, only time will reveal the full impact of these directives on environmental protection and state sovereignty.
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