Public Interest Groups Challenge Trump’s “2-for-1” Regulatory Rollback Directive

Here’s an example of how environmental groups are using our federal courts to fight the Trump regulatory rollback agenda.  NRDC and the Communications Workers of America have sued to overturn E.O. 13771 – the “2 for 1” directive.

This Executive Order requires that each new regulation must be accompanied by the removal of two regulations  – based solely on a very simplistic costs/benefits analysis.

The two public interest groups have asked the DC district court to stop the E.O. because agencies are directed to consider only costs – not benefits – of the regulations. Many environmental laws also include specific criteria on how to balance costs/benefits, and this E.O. attempts to overrule those requirements (without any process to change the law).

The Trump DOJ asked the district court to delay a hearing on the groups’ suit – and the judge (thankfully) declined.

Civil Action No. 17-253 in the District Court of the District of Columbia – one to follow!

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Save EPA has been an all-volunteer group of former EPA officials who became alarmed about the Trump agenda for EPA and joined together to fight it.

With newly-elected President-Elect Biden and VP-Elect Harris coming in January, the need to "save EPA" is much less urgent. This is not to imply all clear skies ahead - there is much re-building to do, there will be negative pressures on the new administration, and we will likely have policy differences in the future. However, we are hopeful that these differences will be discussed rationally, using science as a basis for moving forward, and keeping EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment in the forefront.

And so, we are going back to retirement!  We're keeping our website up at http://saveepaalums.info/ , as a resource for those who want to follow and influence the restoration work. Our report on the Trump record at EPA describes the actions that need to be reversed [saveepaalums.info/Trump+era+report], and our guide to participating in the rulemaking process [http://saveepaalums.info/Resistance+Guide] can help you be part of the solution.

Thank you for your support and commitment during the past 3.5 years.  While the Trump assaults were unending, they were also frequently unsuccessful, and that was due in large part to public outrage.  Keep it up!  Although EPA will be in much better hands with a Biden administration, there is always a need for an informed and engaged public.