President Trump's energy policies have sent shockwaves through the environmental and industrial sectors, prioritizing traditional power sources over green alternatives in a bold bid for American energy dominance.

The administration's aggressive push for fossil fuels and nuclear energy has redefined federal priorities, as detailed by The Hill. From day one, Trump declared an "energy emergency" to turbocharge production of coal, oil, and gas.

His first actions included opening Alaska for expanded drilling and slashing regulatory hurdles that slow domestic energy projects. Subsequent moves axed pollution controls on coal plants, easing standards for toxic emissions like mercury and arsenic.

Fossil Fuels Take Center Stage

The Interior Department shortened environmental reviews for mining and fossil fuel projects on federal lands, fast-tracking approvals. Methane limits for oil and gas operations faced delays, with plans to scrap them entirely.

Offshore drilling saw a massive proposed expansion, targeting waters off California and Florida for oil and gas exploration. Natural gas exports also got a significant boost under Trump's directives.

Nuclear energy emerged as a key focus, with ambitions to quadruple national production. Trump ordered shorter environmental reviews for reactors and a reevaluation of radiation safety standards.

Renewable Energy Faces Steep Challenges

Wind and solar industries encountered immediate roadblocks, starting with Trump's Day 1 order halting auctions for wind farm rights on public lands. Offshore wind projects, already permitted, were stalled, with leases for five major initiatives suspended by December.

The tax bill dealt a harsh blow, slashing credits for renewable projects unless they meet tight construction deadlines. Electric vehicle incentives vanished alongside these cuts, hampering cleaner transport options.

Additional barriers, like heightened review processes for solar and wind, promise to slow approvals and shrink large-scale green projects. Biden-era subsidies for low-carbon energy also face elimination at agencies like the EPA, clawing back billions in funding.

Climate Policies and Research Under Fire

Climate action took a direct hit as the EPA moved to repeal the 2009 endangerment finding linking climate change to public health risks. Vehicle fuel efficiency standards faced rollbacks, with penalties for violations wiped out in the tax overhaul.

The Energy Department’s report, penned by climate skeptics, minimized the crisis, a stance later challenged by scientists. Climate research suffered further with dismissed scientists, slashed contracts for the National Climate Assessment, and plans to dismantle a Colorado research center.

Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on his first day, effective in 2026, signaled a retreat from global climate efforts. The administration skipped COP30 talks in Brazil and worked to undermine state-level environmental laws through Justice Department actions.

Regulatory Rollbacks and Workforce Cuts

Environmental regulations on water and toxic chemicals saw significant loosening, with Trump ordering a sunset of rules by October 2026. The EPA narrowed Clean Water Act protections and delayed compliance with limits on forever chemicals in drinking water.

Safety standards for chemical plants and hazardous air pollution rules face reconsideration, easing oversight on industry. Over 100 polluters gained exemptions from Biden-era toxic release limits, a move drawing criticism even from some allies in the Make America Healthy Again movement.

Federal workforce reductions hit environmental agencies hard, with buyouts and layoffs slashing staff at Interior, NOAA, and EPA. The EPA’s Office of Research and Development vanished, alongside cuts to environmental justice roles, while FEMA faces a potential halving of its staff under proposed reforms.