President Trump's War on the Environment

1. Migratory Birds: The administration proposed formal regulations to cement into law a hotly disputed legal opinion declaring that the Migratory Bird Act (MBTA) does not need to protect migratory birds from harm caused by industrial activities. This has dramatically undercut the law's ability to conserve birds.

2. National Monuments: In December 2017, President Trump signed proclamations that decimated two national monument in Utah -- Bear Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante. And the president's threat of downsizing or reducing protections remains for an many as eight other national monuments around the country.

3. Marine Life: The Trump administration has reversed direction and permitted the use of seismic air guns for gas and oil exploration in the Atlantic Ocean. The practice, which can kill marine life and disrupt fisheries had previously been blocked by the Obama administration.

4. Clean Water: The administration revoked a rule recognizing federal responsibility to protect for streams that provide clean drinking water and wetlands that provide sanctuary for wildlife. This reversal was formalized in the Waters of the United States, or 'WOTUS' rule in January 2020.

5. Public Lands: The Trump administration opened 9 million acres of western public land to oil and gas drilling by weakening habitat protections for the greater sage-grouse, an imperiled bird known for its elaborate mating dance. This move is now only temporarily deterred by an Idaho District Court injunction blocking the administration's 'Energy Dominance' agenda.

6. Climate Change" In 2017, President Trump issued an executive order that cripples our ability to take action on the global threat of climate change. This was quickly followed by an effort to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, among dozes of other climate change policies revised, reversed and dissolved under this administration. In January, the Trump administration proposed rules that would allow federal agencies to ignore climate  impacts of their actions in environmental reviews.

7. Border Wall: In December 2019, Congress unveiled $1.4 billion in funding to build the border wall. When built, a border wall between the U.S and Mexico will fragment vital ecosystems and landscapes,threatening wildlife and people. Thousands of scientists from around the world agree that building a border wall will be devastating to North America's biodiversity. Defenders [of Wildlife] has requested U.S. Supreme Court review of federal court rulings that have allowed the Trump administration to waive dozens of environmental laws to speed construction of border wall.

8. Evaluation: The Trump administration  targeted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in January 2020 in order to fast track development and infrastructure projects like highways and pipelines. NEPA ensures that federal agencies publicly evaluate the environmental effects of their actions. Rolling it back will only expose the American people and environment to serious harm and dirty our water, clean air and environment.

These items were taken from a Defenders of Wildlife leaflet. There were ten items, but copying errors obscured all or part of two items, one dealing with the BLM and the Arctic Refuge.