Washington, D.C. — Today, President Donald Trump is scheduled to sign an executive order to start a process that could roll back fuel efficiency standards for cars and SUVs. These standards, issued by the Obama administration with the support of the auto industry, are projected to reduce U.S. oil dependence by more than 2 million barrels per day by 2025 and save consumers an estimated $1 trillion at the gasoline pump.
Within days, the Trump administration also is expected to start the process of dismantling the Clean Power Plan and reverse a moratorium on new coal lease sales on public lands.
A new analysis released today by the Center for American Progress looks at how this assault by the Trump administration on energy and environmental policy appears to be driven by an emerging cartel of at least five key political appointees, lobbyists, and corporate interests who are working together to deliver financial benefits to themselves or their allies.
In response, CAP will seek the immediate release of the Trump administration’s communications with special interest groups relating to the administration’s early anti-environmental actions and orders.
“Today’s executive order is the latest example of how an emerging cartel of oil executives and other special interest lobbyists appear to be writing, line by line, the Trump administration’s anti-environmental policies,” said Christy Goldfuss, CAP Vice President for Energy and Environment Policy. “Americans have a right to know exactly who is writing the anti-environmental policies that President Trump is signing, which special interests are lobbying for favors, and what financial stake the Trump family and Trump administration officials have in these giveaways.”
The business model being established by the Trump administration on energy and environmental matters appears to resemble the one used by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt when he served as attorney general for the state of Oklahoma. Emails released by the state of Oklahoma show that Pruitt allowed oil and gas companies to draft official government documents for him when he was attorney general.
“We will do everything we can to shine a light into the dark back rooms where the Trump administration is selling out America’s health and environmental protections to the highest bidder,” added Goldfuss.
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For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.