What Trump’s second administration could mean for environmental justice

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative, which directs 40% of federal climate investments to disadvantaged communities, is at risk under President-elect Donald Trump
• Trump's allies and the Project 2025 plan suggest defunding environmental justice programs, potentially dismantling the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice
• Critics fear that regulatory rollbacks and funding cuts could harm vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by pollution

🔭 The context: Biden’s environmental justice efforts, supported by laws like the Inflation Reduction Act, allocated billions for projects such as electric school buses, solar power on tribal lands, and pollution cleanup
• These programs reflect decades of activism and are critical in addressing racial and economic disparities in environmental health
• Trump’s prior administration saw decreased enforcement of environmental protections, particularly in pollution monitoring and reporting

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Defunding environmental justice programs could increase pollution in already overburdened areas, exacerbating health risks for low-income and minority communities
• Environmental justice policies help ensure equitable access to clean air, water, and renewable energy
• Their rollback may undermine progress toward addressing systemic inequalities and mitigating climate impacts

⏭️ What’s next: Trump's administration is expected to prioritize deregulation, potentially eliminating environmental justice offices and reallocating remaining Justice40 funds
• Community advocates are racing to secure grant allocations before Trump takes office
• Long-term, environmental groups anticipate legal and grassroots battles to preserve protections

💬 One quote: “Environmental justice and civil rights is not something [Trump’s] administration wants to support... They want to obliterate it,” - Matthew Tejada, former EPA environmental justice official

📈 One stat: Environmental justice grants under Justice40 apply to over 500 programs across 19 federal agencies, with $613 billion allocated through 2027

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