Enforcement against polluters in the United States saw a significant decline during the first year of President Donald Trump's second term, according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity Project, a watchdog organization.
The nonprofit organization analyzed a wide range of federal court and administrative data, finding that the US Department of Justice filed only 16 civil lawsuits in cases referred by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the 12 months following Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025. This number represents a 76% decrease from the similar period in the Biden administration.
During Trump's first administration, 86 such cases were filed in the initial year, which itself was a decrease from the 127 cases during the Obama administration's first year.
Jen Duggan, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, emphasized that environmental laws lose significance if not enforced. "Our nation’s landmark environmental laws are meaningless when EPA does not enforce the rules," she stated.
The report's findings align with recent analyses from the nonprofits Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Earthjustice, which also noted declining environmental enforcement under Trump's leadership.
Since the onset of Trump’s second term, his administration has aggressively pursued a deregulatory agenda, rolling back various regulations and health safeguards protecting the environment, which has particularly benefited fossil fuel companies. Trump declared an “energy emergency” right after taking office.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced in March an initiative described as the “biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” consisting of 31 distinct efforts to loosen air and water pollution restrictions, grant more authority to states known for lenient enforcement, and reduce the EPA's responsibilities under the Clean Air Act concerning climate change.