Trump Reverses Environmental Justice Policies, Ends Protections for Vulnerable Communities

Jan 26, 2025, 03:13 PM

President Donald Trump has reversed federal policies addressing environmental justice, revoking a Clinton-era rule that required agencies to prioritize the health of low-income and minority communities disproportionately affected by pollution. This decision ends initiatives like the Biden administration's Justice40 program, which allocated 40% of benefits from environmental programs to hard-hit areas. Trump also withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and halted funds from the Inflation Reduction Act for climate and environmental justice programs. An EPA-funded study previously found that Black individuals at all income levels are more likely to breathe pollution causing heart and lung issues. Critics argue this rollback will worsen conditions for Black, Latino, and low-income communities near industrial sites and polluted areas, including Houston's Fifth Ward, where cancer clusters are under investigation. Local governments and advocacy groups are preparing lawsuits to counter the policy changes.