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 reveals Baracks different relationships with their daughters - The Independent - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Obama supports California redistricting, says GOP cant rig the game - The Washington Post - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Major bank execs claim they were pressured by Obama and Biden admins to deny services - WBMA - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama reveals why husband Barack 'struggled' to parent youngest daughter - HELLO! Magazine - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Says Husband Barack Found Raising Their Youngest Daughter Sasha To Be 'Difficult' - yahoo.com - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Obama makes rare political intervention to weigh in on Texas redistricting and back Newsoms California plan - The Independent - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Gerrymandering row: Barack Obama backs Newsoms redistricting plan in California; calls it a smart, meas - The Times of India - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Obama makes rare political intervention to weigh in on Texas redistricting and back Newsom - Yahoo News Canada - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Reveals Why Barack Found Youngest Daughter Sasha Difficult To Raise - The Root - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama opens up about parenting Sasha and Malia in the White House and why Barack called Sasha difficult - TheGrio - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Exclusive | Tulsi Gabbard strips 37 security clearances over Obama-ordered intel report that launched Russiagate - New York Post - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama reveals which daughter Barack found more difficult to raise - Page Six - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Obama Reportedly Approves Of Californias Redistricting Plan - Forbes - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Bank executives blow the whistle on how Obama, Biden admins pressured them to debank conservatives - Fox Business - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Reveals Why Sasha and Malia Had Different Relationships With Barack - ELLE - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Trump ally says criminal investigations into Obama and Biden are imminent - AOL.com - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Sasha or Malia Obama? Michelle jokes about which daughter was the 'difficult' one - HOLA - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Election 2025 Redistricting Obama - The Herald Journal - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Barack Obama reacts to Gavin Newsom's redistricting play - MSN - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Who deported more migrants? Obama or Trump? We checked the numbers - yahoo.com - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- We owe it to Ukrainians: Stephen A. Smith defends Donald Trump and points to Joe Biden Obama and Bill C - Times of India - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Exclusive | Lee Zeldin tells Pod Force One how Obama and Biden alums cashed in on $20B climate slush fund - New York Post - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama's unexpected three-word dating advice for daughters Sasha and Malia - hellomagazine.com - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama gives her take on the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry hate - New York Post - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama nitpicks Barack AND youngest daughter Sasha in latest podcast episode - Daily Mail - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- The Trump ally fighting for criminal investigations of Obama, Biden and Clinton - NBC News - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Mamdani and Obama also have this in common - Politico - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Reveals the Dating Advice She Gave to Daughters Malia and Sasha - E! Online - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Why former Obama and Biden official joined legal defense team of Bay Area sheriff facing removal - The Mercury News - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Trump ally says criminal investigations into Obama and Biden are imminent - The Independent - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- CNN says Obama, Clinton, and Bush smarter than Trump: Liberal Media Scream - Washington Examiner - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Fact check: Did Jeffrey Epstein get a 'sweetheart plea deal' from the Obama administration? - WRAL.com - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Back When Obama Said States Are Just Agents Of The President - Peach Pundit - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Weighs in On Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Rivalry - Sports Illustrated - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Barack and Michell Obama are blocking beloved TV wife from reuniting with on-screen hubby in new show - SILive.com - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Barack Obama's Tradition From First Campaign He Still Maintains Today - Newsweek - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- The Trump ally fighting for criminal investigations of Obama, Biden and Clinton - AOL.com - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama's Royally Inappropriate Outfit Will Always Haunt Her - women.com - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Ruling from Obama-appointed judge says Floridas book ban law is overbroad and unconstitutional - Creative Loafing Tampa Bay - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Elon Musks AI chatbot Grok picks Obama over Trump, and the 2 reasons will spark outrage - The Economic Times - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Obama Tears Trump Apart in Blistering Call to Fight Back - The Daily Beast - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Former Navy SEAL Rep. Eli Crane fires off message for ex-President Obama: 'Probably best to sit this one out' - Fox News - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Meet the former Soros foundation exec connecting Obama world with Mamdani campaign - Fox News - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- The Sprawling Government Effort to Prosecute Barack Obama - The New York Times - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Petty or racist: Ex White House photographer rips Trump for hiding Obama portrait and bucking tradition - The Independent - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Before Trumps efforts to make kids healthier, there was Michelle Obama - The 19th News - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Scores Migration Legal Win From Obama and Biden Judges - Newsweek - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Russiagate: Declassified email 'expose' Obama intel chief; 'Clapper pushed Putin-Trump narrative in 2016 - The Times of India - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Elon Musk's AI says Obama was 'better' president than Trump for two key reasons - Daily Express US - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Forget Obama: Trump's Pen and Phone Are Bigger Even Than FDR's - Reason Magazine - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Petty or racist: Ex White House photographer rips Trump for hiding Obama portrait and bucking tradition - AOL.com - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Former White House Photographer Shares 2 Theories On Trump Hiding Obama Portrait - HuffPost - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Draw Crowds on Marthas Vineyard - The New York Times - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Obama official says Democratic Party 'afraid of its own future, wants it to embrace Mamdani strategy - Fox News - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Trumps Peace Prize envy is just the latest round in his obsession with one-upping Obama - The Independent - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Moves Barack Obama's White House Portrait to Hidden Stairwell in Another Breach of Protocol - People.com - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Jen Aniston Had Dinner With Michelle Obama Amid Those Barack Romance Rumors - Harper's BAZAAR - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Trump moves Obama and Bush portraits to hidden White House stairwell amid ongoing tensions - NBC Montana - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Trump Moves Obama and Bush Portraits in Revenge Redecorating - New York Magazine - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama's Silky Printed Blouse Is the Perfect Summer-to-Fall Staple - Harper's BAZAAR - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama and Natasha Rothwell on Who TF Did I Marry?, Being Seen and Community Building - Variety - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Trump relegates portraits of Obama and Bush from main staircase - The Times - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Pairs an Unexpected Cutout Blouse With a Leather Bustier - instyle.com - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama's Silky Printed Blouse Is the Perfect Summer-to-Fall Staple - AOL.com - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Trump moves Obama and Bush portraits to hidden White House stairwell amid ongoing tensions - WACH - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Billionaire with ties to Jeffrey Epstein nabs $37M Martha's Vineyard home where Obama vacationed - Fox Business - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Why the right thinks Barack Obama still controls the universe - Daily Kos - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- AG Pam Bondi's absurd Obama grand jury probe is a political stunt - MSNBC News - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Obama Grand Jury Convening in Florida Would Be Major Boost for Trump - Newsweek - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Was Ready To Friend-Zone Barack When They Met Until He Got All Sultry On The Phone - LittleThings.com - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Jeffrey Epstein-linked billionaire pays $37M for former Obama rental home on Marthas Vineyard - yahoo.com - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- The week in whoppers: Axios is shocked, shocked at probes into Obama officials, Kathy Hochul resorts to lies about starving children and more - New... - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Trump "happy to hear" DOJ launched grand jury probe of Obama officials - Axios - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama calls husband Barack Obama 'my everything' in sweet birthday post - ABC News - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- US DOJ to open grand jury to investigate Obama officials, source says - Reuters - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- The Nations Most Influential Obama Bros Have Taken a Surprising New Stance - Slate - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- Trump administration launches probe over claims of intelligence manipulation by Obama - Scripps News - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- Trump's DOJ to open grand jury probe into Obama officials over 'Russiagate' - France 24 - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- T.J. Wilkins to Reprise Role as Barack Obama in 44 in Chicago - TheaterMania - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- DOJ to launch grand jury probe over Russia allegations against Obama officials - The Hill - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]