In anticipation of his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has proposed many executive orders that would undo a large number of the environmental policies put in place during the Biden administration. Notably, Trump is set to exit the Paris Agreement, a key international climate accord and the proposals include rolling back regulations that limit pollution and reducing national monuments to facilitate greater resource extraction. To implement a plan to loosen government controls on the production of fossil fuels and energy exports, Trump’s transition team is collaborating closely with former industry lobbyists, especially individuals with coal and oil experience.

The proposal for Trump to exit the Paris Agreement is a key part of his broader strategy to withdraw from international climate commitments and boost domestic fossil fuel industries. The decision would pave the way for increased drilling and mining on public lands, notably in the West, where monument borders would be modified to allow resource production in regions formerly protected by the Biden administration. In addition to these environmental cuts, Trump proposes to lift the prohibition on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports imposed by Biden. The suspension was part of a larger investigation of the economic and environmental implications of LNG exports, notably to Asia and Europe.

Shift in Energy and Environmental Policy Focus

An important shift in Trump’s energy strategy is the idea of appointing an “energy czar” to supervise the synchronization of environmental and energy policies across several government departments. It is anticipated that this role will contribute to the reduction of restrictions and the increase in the production of fossil fuels, such as coal, gas, and oil. According to reports, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a crucial energy advisor during Trump’s campaign, is being considered for the position. He is an avid advocate of policies that give fossil fuel extraction priority because of his intimate relationships with the oil and gas sector.

Dan Brouillette, the former energy secretary of Trump’s first government, is another prospective contender for this position. This “energy czar” position would be similar to the White House Energy Task Force from the George W. Bush administration, which focused on safeguarding the country’s energy supplies by assuring continuous support for fossil fuels.

In addition to policy changes, Trump’s administration is considering relocating the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) headquarters from Washington, D.C., as part of a larger push to limit government agencies’ power in regulating business. The proposal builds on a precedent set during Trump’s first term when the government moved the Bureau of Land Management to Colorado and other departments out of Washington.

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Transition Team’s Approach to Environmental Regulation

Individuals with strong connections to the fossil fuel sector, such as former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler and former oil lobbyist David Bernhardt, have had a significant impact on the Trump administration’s attitude to environmental regulation. Both are anticipated to keep shaping policies under the incoming administration. Former Interior Secretary Bernhardt is a key member of the transition team, especially when it comes to energy and public lands policy. Under his direction, the government revoked laws intended to save endangered species and cut carbon emissions, and it allowed the extraction of fossil fuels on vast areas of public property.

The EPA changeover is also aimed at reversing Biden’s climate-related policy. Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist who ran the EPA under Trump, is expected to rejoin the agency, where he orchestrated the repeal of several environmental rules, including those aimed at cutting emissions from power plants and cars. Trump’s administration aims to continue attempts to undermine federal environmental safeguards, including those addressing climate change and pollution management.

Trump’s team will use a combination of seasoned political insiders and business lobbyists to quickly and thoroughly restructure the federal government’s environmental protection strategy as he works to put these plans into effect. The decision for Trump to exit Paris Agreement marks a significant departure from international climate action and highlights the administration’s prioritization of domestic energy interests.

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