All the ways Trump is shredding Obama’s climate agenda – Politico
If President Donald Trump pulls out of the Paris agreement, it will be the latest step in his determined campaign to erase former President Barack Obama's green agenda. | AP Photo
President Donald Trump's expected decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement is a huge morale blow to the worldwide effort to head off the worst effects of global warming. But it's just the latest step in his determined campaign to erase Barack Obama's green agenda.
Pulling out of the Paris deal means that the United States the world's second-largest producer of greenhouse gases would no longer take part in the most comprehensive international pact ever crafted on climate change, joining Syria and Nicaragua as the only holdouts among nearly 200 nations.
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But Trump's domestic environmental efforts will have the most immediate real-world impact on the planet's fate, by halting Obama's attempts to achieve steep cuts in U.S. carbon emissions and shift the country away from fossil fuels. The impact of those regulation rollbacks and other steps could be equivalent to adding almost 2 percent to the world's carbon output by 2025 compared with Obama's targets, based on recent analyses at a time when climate researchers say the world urgently needs to accelerate its reductions.
This is POLITICO's rundown of the steps Trump has already set in motion:
Trump ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to take the first steps toward repealing Obamas Clean Power Plan, a suite of curbs on greenhouse gas pollution from thousands of existing power plants. Those restrictions, and a separate regulation on future plants, would have encouraged power companies to shift away from coal.
The administration lifted Obamas freeze on new coal leases on federal land, and halted the Interior Departments formal environmental review of coal leasing charges.
Interior announced it will repeal an Obama-era rule that threatened to increase companies royalty payments for coal, oil and natural gas they extract on federal lands.
Energy Secretary Rick Perry ordered a 60-day review of tax and regulatory policies that are responsible for forcing the premature retirement of baseload power plants, language suggesting the report will criticize federal support for wind and solar power.
Trump ordered Interior to end restrictions on oil drilling in Arctic waters, and told it to consider opening up the Atlantic coast for drilling.
He ordered Interior to rewrite a 2015 rule that called for tighter environmental standards for fracked oil and gas wells on public lands. He also ordered reviews of a rule on offshore oil well safety, as well as one relating to air quality evaluations for offshore oil and gas drillers.
He signed a congressional repeal of an Interior Department land-use planning update after fossil fuel companies complained it would hurt their access to federal lands.
EPA withdrew a request for information from oil and gas companies about methane emissions from their operations. The Obama administrations request had been seen as an early step toward regulating those sources.
Trump ordered the Commerce Department to review all marine sanctuaries established or expanded in the past 10 years for possible oil and natural gas drilling opportunities.
He reversed Obamas denial of a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to allow final construction on the Dakota Access pipeline. Neither project would have much impact on the climate by itself, but the moves sent a strong signal of the administrations intention to increase fossil fuel production.
Trumps 2018 budget request proposed a 31 percent cut to EPAs budget, which especially targeted its climate programs. He also proposed cutting climate research at other agencies, including Interiors U.S. Geological Survey.
EPA reassigned employees who had been working on adapting to the effects of climate change.
Trump called for eliminating DOEs loan program and its Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which supports commercially risky technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The administration also sought deep cuts to offices devoted to fossil, nuclear and renewable energy as well as energy efficiency.
DOE placed a hold on funding for nearly two dozen ARPA-E projects. Only three have gotten approval under the Trump administration.
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All the ways Trump is shredding Obama's climate agenda - Politico
- Michelle Obama explains why she thinks the U.S. isn't ready for a female president - nbcwashington.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama gives 3-word response on if her husband would seek 3rd term - masslive.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama, who called herself "Mom-in-Chief," now says she doesn't recommend women leave careers for children - Yahoo - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Reacts to Criticism of Her Appearance During Time as First Lady - E! News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Tearful Regina King Thanks Sasha and Malia Obama for Their Friendship With Her Late Son Ian - E! News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Rewind: Obama roasts Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner. - Brut - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Regina King Reflects on Son Ian's Friendship With Michelle Obama's Daughters Malia and Sasha Before His Death - instyle.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama says friendships are as important as the degree that you got in college, your job title, and your salary - Fortune - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Id Actively Work Against That: Michelle Obama Shuts Down Third Obama Term Talk - bet.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- OOPS! Megyn Kelly And Guests May Be Telling On Themselves In Angry Michelle Obama Rant - HuffPost - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Just Revealed the Sad Truth About How the Media Actually Viewed Her in the White House - The Root - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Moments When Donald Trump Was Jealous of Barack Obama - Inquisitr News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Would Actively Work Against Husband Barack Becoming President Again - Globe Magazine - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Actor Craig Robinson Says a Past Girlfriend Thought He Was Michelle Obama's Married Brother - People.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama clarifies woman President comments on Call Her Daddy Podcast | RISING - The Hill - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama pressed on whether Barack would run for White House a third time if Trump changed the law - Yahoo - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama and Gretchen Whitmer Disagree on Americas Readiness for a Female President - The New York Times - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama issues brutal verdict on whether Barack should run for president again - The Independent - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama explains her comments that the US wasnt ready for a female president - CNN - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Barack Obama, Where the F--k Are You? - The Daily Beast - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Former first lady Michelle Obama said on a popular podcast that she would actively work against her husband, Barack, running for a hypothetical third... - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama pans possibility of third term for presidents: 8 years is enough - The Hill - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Says She Would 'Actively Work Against' Another Barack Presidency if Term Limits Were Changed - People.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Slams Critics for Putting Women in Their Place by Attacking Their Physical Being - Yahoo - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Celebrates 62nd Birthday in a Vest Held Together by a Safety Pin for Surprise 'Call Her Daddy' Appearance - instyle.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- New court doc asserts former Obama WH counsel advised Jeffrey Epstein during critical reputational and legal battles - CNN - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Sits Down With Call Her Daddy to Talk Fashion, Scrutiny, and Looking Beyond Appearance - Harper's BAZAAR - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama would 'actively work against' a hypothetical third term from Barack, she says - New York Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama is asked if Barack would run again if Trump changed the law - The Independent - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Reveals What She'd Want Her Husband To Do If Trump Ran For A Third Term - HuffPost - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Admits That She Used to Want Husband Barack to "Be Different" - instyle.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Reveals Why She Wouldnt Want Husband Barack to Be President Again - Entertainment Tonight - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Doesnt Want Barack to Run for a Third Term Says She Would Work Against It' - Inquisitr News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama says she would 'actively work against' Barack running for hypothetical third term - Fox News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Reacts to Criticism of Her Appearance During Time as First Lady - E! Online - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Makes Huge Confession About First Meeting With Husband Barack - Reality Tea - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Video Jesse Williams on documentarys connection from basketball to Obama and MLK - ABC News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Marks Her Birthday on Instagramand Fans Immediately Zero In on One Thing - Parade - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama says she would 'actively' discourage her husband from running again - Yahoo - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama reveals how her looks were criticised during time as First Lady - tyla.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Trump has unfinished business in Iran -- he must do better than Obama and take action for the protesters' sake - New York Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- The Nobel Prize committee doesn't want Trump getting one, even as a giftbut they treated Obama very differently - Fortune - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Vinson Cunningham on Barry Blitts Obama Fist Bump Cover - The New Yorker - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Barack Obama shares loving birthday tribute to wife, Michelle, on her 62nd birthday - ABC News - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Barack and Michelle Obama's Rare Family Photos with Daughters Sasha and Malia - People.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Celebrated on Her 62nd Birthday by Husband Barack - People.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Relationship tip of the day: Michelle Obama reveals the hard truth that saved her marriage - 'I had to le - Times of India - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Barack Obama Shares a Heartfelt Tribute to Michelle Obama to Mark Her 62nd Birthday: "I Love You, Miche" - instyle.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICHELLE OBAMA! Former US president Barack Obama penned a sweet birthday message to his wife, Michelle Obama, on Sunday. "Happy... - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Obama Presidential Center to feature major work by East Lansing-raised artist Julie Mehretu - WKAR - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Help Wanted at the Obama Presidential Center - The Wall Street Journal - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Celebrated on Her 62nd Birthday by Husband Barack - AOL.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Drowning in noise: A warning from Project Censored and President Obama - Illinois Times - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Meeting This Morning Proposes Painting Over the Image of Barack Obama at Chamizal Park - El Paso Herald Post - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Barack Obama's Birthday Post For Michelle Proves They Have What Donald And Melania Never Will - thelist.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Whole milk set to return to school cafeterias after Trump reverses Obama-era act - The Independent - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Sasha Obama shows off effortless street-style look with the perfect winter skirt - HOLA - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Inside Michelle Obama's most transformative fashion year yet as she turns 62 - HELLO! Magazine - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- An Obama Judges Absurd Reasoning for Restoring Funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics - National Review - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Malia Obama makes clogs cool with cropped pants and a colorful sweater - HOLA - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Iran is on fire, and Trump will not turn away as Obama did - JNS.org - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Obama had just won elections ...build a small inner circle,Not admirers.Truth tellers... On the morning of November 5, 2008, at exactly 6:00 a.m.,... - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Trump continues to fume over Obama winning the Nobel Prize as organization reminds him award can't be transferred - TheGrio - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Make Michelle Obama's White & Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies that beat Ann Romney's in 2012 - HOLA - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Trump repeats claim of stopping India-Pakistan conflict, says Obama didn't do anything to win Nobel - The Hindu - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Barack Obama More Popular with Young Men Than Joe Rogan or Donald Trump - Newsweek - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- As the Obama Center nears completion, a long-neglected Jackson Park pavilion finally getting its due - Chicago Sun-Times - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Stanwood woman's photos of her late mother finally headed to Obama museum, forging bond over shared loss - KING5.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- MPS said it took disciplinary action after Dec. 16 Bay View-Obama basketball fight - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Germany eavesdropped on some Obama calls from Air Force One, book says - The Washington Post - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- With President Obama Setting an Example, a Princeton Writer Resolves to Make Some Small, Doable Changes in the New Year - TAPinto - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- I Can't Believe I'm Saying This But A Fox News Host Just Took Back What They Said About Michelle Obama - Yahoo - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- The Obama Presidential Center Begins Its Newest Installation, and Other News - surfacemag.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Obama Foundation Kicks Off Hiring for 150 New Full-Time Career Opportunities at the Obama Presidential Center - lawndalenews.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Ex-Obama Adviser Reviews RFK Jr.s Food Pyramidthe Good, Bad, and Missing - Newsweek - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- The Obama Center is Hiring For More Than 150 Positions Right Now - Secret Chicago - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Sasha Obama's Athleisure Look Checks All the Accessory Boxes - Teen Vogue - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Laura Ingraham Admits Michelle Obama Was 'Right' After Trump Administration Unveils New Dietary Guidelines: 'Take It Back' - AOL.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Obama Presidential Center Seeks To Fill Over 150 Full-Time Roles As It Prepares To Open In Chicago - AfroTech - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Promotes The Look In Thom Browne - Yahoo - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]