US environmental enforcement by Trump's EPA drops to record low

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Federal enforcement action against polluting companies in the U.S. fell to a historic ​low in 2025, the first year of President ‌Donald Trump's second term, according to a report released on Thursday.

Just 16 ‌complaints were filed in civil court by the Justice Department on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, down 76% from the first year of the Biden administration, down 81% ⁠from the first year ‌of Trump's first term and down 87% from the first year of former President Barack ‍Obama's second term, an analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project found.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

The sharp decline in enforcement of polluting companies comes ​as the Trump administration has rolled back an unprecedented ‌number of environmental rules aimed at protecting public health, slashed staffing levels at the EPA and sought to fast-track permitting of projects to expand fossil fuel production.

KEY QUOTE

"The actions that the current Trump administration have taken have really ⁠put American communities at risk ​for exposure to illegal air and ​water pollution," said Jen Duggan, executive director of the EIP.

BY THE NUMBERS

The number of judicial cases ‍settled under the ⁠second Trump Administration last year also decreased sharply, according to the report: by 64% compared to the Biden ⁠Administration, by 65% compared to the first Trump Administration, and by ‌78% compared to Obama’s second term.

(Reporting by Valerie ‌Volcovici; Editing by Sonali Paul)