U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Tuesday aimed at blocking state-level climate laws that restrict fossil fuel use and promote clean energy. This latest move underscores Trump’s ongoing efforts to expand domestic energy production and counter policies designed to reduce carbon emissions.
The executive order directs the U.S. attorney general to identify and take action against state laws and initiatives related to climate change, ESG (environmental, social, governance) standards, and environmental justice. Trump criticized such laws as "ideologically motivated" and harmful to "American energy dominance and national security."
States targeted in the order include New York and Vermont, which have imposed penalties on fossil fuel companies for their role in global warming. California’s cap-and-trade program and climate-related lawsuits were also singled out. The executive order reflects Trump’s broader energy strategy to prioritize oil, natural gas, and coal while challenging Democratic-led environmental efforts.
Democratic governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, co-chairs of the U.S. Climate Alliance, vowed to resist the federal action. In a joint statement, they affirmed their commitment to climate solutions that protect clean air and water, create jobs, and grow the green energy economy. The Alliance, made up of 24 governors, has pledged to uphold climate action despite federal opposition.
The American Petroleum Institute welcomed Trump’s order, calling it a necessary step to stop states like New York and California from imposing what it labeled "unconstitutional" restrictions on U.S. energy producers.
This order marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between state-led climate initiatives and federal efforts to bolster fossil fuel industries amid increasing concerns about climate change.