Trump talks tough on toxics but is rolling back rules

Energy & Environment

The Big Story

Trump talks tough on toxics but is rolling back rules

President Trump has repeatedly said he’ll take on toxic chemicals — but many of his administration’s actions are expected to allow for more pollution, not less.

During his joint address to Congress earlier this month, Trump talked about a boy whose cancer he blamed on a chemical exposure, saying that reversing the rise in child cancer rates in recent decades is “one of the top priorities for our new presidential commission to Make America Healthy Again.”

Trump has also adopted his Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” slogan — saying he’ll take on toxic substances that threaten Americans’ well-being.

“President Trump is committed to replacing unclean foreign energy with the liquid gold under our feet while Making America Healthy Again by ridding our environment, water, and food supply of dangerous toxins,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in an email.

Weeks into Trump’s second term, the Department of Health and Human Services does appear poised to move toward chemical regulation in food.

But the administration has also taken significant steps to abandon or roll back efforts to reduce exposure to potentially toxic substances.

Last week, it dropped a lawsuit that aimed to force a company to reduce its emissions of a substance the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers likely to cause cancer in an already highly polluted area.

The administration also indicated that it is likely to reduce the stringency of safety screenings for potentially harmful chemicals.

Among the chemicals that are currently undergoing the screening process is vinyl chloride, a toxic substance used to make PVC plastic that was released, along with other chemicals, in a train derailment in Ohio in 2023. Trump repeatedly bashed the Biden administration’s response to the crash on the campaign trail last year.

Last week, the EPA also announced a broad slate of environmental rollbacks. Among the regulations the agency says it may reverse is a Biden-era rule regulating emissions of the carcinogen ethylene oxide, which is used to sterilize medical devices.

In January, the EPA also withdrew Biden-era plans to put a limit on the amount of “forever chemicals” that manufacturers are allowed to release into the water.

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Essential Reads

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

Fired workers return to federal agencies — but are put on paid leave

As a result of recent court orders, federal employees are returning to their jobs — but are being put on paid leave.

Full Story

HUD, Interior announce plan to use federal land for affordable housing

Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner and Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced on Monday plans to identify federal lands where affordable housing could be built.

Full Story

White House says it will eliminate national monuments — then scrubs the announcement

The White House said Friday night that it would eliminate protections from millions of acres declared by former President Biden as national monuments — but later scrubbed that language from its fact sheet.

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Texans grapple with rising toxic pollution as oil, gas production booms

ODESSA, Texas — For retired pastor Columbus Cooper, life can be divided into two periods: the time when he could still drink water out of his tap, and the time after.

Full Story

What We're Reading

News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

Trump Halted an Agent Orange Cleanup. That Puts Hundreds of Thousands at Risk for Poisoning. (ProPublica)
What went wrong the night Altadena burned (The Washington Post)
Climate Change Science Atop Mauna Loa Could Stall Amid Federal Cuts (Honolulu Civil Beat)

What Others are Reading

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Trump ‘disappointed,’ vows to ‘fix’ Kennedy Center after first tour

President Trump says he’s “disappointed” with what he saw while touring the Kennedy Center for the first time after naming himself chair of the performing arts institution as part of an unprecedented overhaul, vowing to fix up a place he says “represents a very important part” of both Washington and the country. Read more

Jan. 6 investigators hit back at Trump over pardon threat: ‘Do it. Or shut up’

The members of the Jan. 6 investigative committee are hitting back at President Trump for his threat to nullify the presidential pardons surrounding their work. Read more

Opinions in The Hill

Op-ed related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill:

Trump is tackling every ‘emergency’ except the important one — climate change

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!

Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage.

Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩

Topics

Eye Opener: President Trump declines to rule out possible recession

President Trump doesn't rule out a possible recession while Canada's new prime minister talks tough on the trade war with the U.S. Also, House Republicans unveiled a plan to prevent a government ...
CBS News - Mar. 10
Trump rolls back over a dozen Biden-era executive orders, actions

President Trump rolled back on Friday over a dozen former executive orders and directives signed by former President Biden focused on gender, labor policies and industry regulations. Trump signed ...
The Hill - 3d
While Trump pledges to combat toxics, his EPA moves to loosen chemical rules

President Trump has repeatedly said he’ll take on toxic chemicals — but many of his administration's actions are expected to allow for more pollution, not less. During his joint address to Congress ...
The Hill - 1d
Trump administration to roll back Biden-era environmental protections

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday 31 actions rolling back key public health and climate change policies. These regulation cutbacks impact wastewater discharges, ...
CBS News - 5d
Judges Are Pushing Back on Trump’s Actions. Here’s a Look at Key Rulings.

Taken as a whole, the rulings represent an effort to thwart President Trump’s serial attempts to increase his power and the executive branch’s dominion over the government.
The New York Times - 5d
Washington worried with Trump back in town: ‘The atmosphere is toxic here’

The Kennedy Center and BLM mural have been targeted, the newspaper is in freefall – and the Maga movement is gaining a foothold. It was an audience more accustomed to stifling a cough or resisting ...
The Guardian - 2d
Carney talks tough on Trump threat - but can he reset relations?

Canada's next PM, who described the US as a "country we can no longer trust", will need to work with the US president.
BBC News - Mar. 10
Congo's friends may force it to sit down and talk with Rwanda-backed rebels

Democratic Republic of Congo President Tshisekedi has long ruled out dialogue with Rwanda-backed M23, but defeats and waning support have forced him to rethink.
NBC News - 3d
China Backs Iran in Nuclear Talks, Slams ‘Threat of Force’ From the West

Beijing sought to position itself as a key player in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, as President Trump called for talks with Tehran.
The New York Times - 4d
Why Ukraine hopes Trump minerals deal will win back US support

American and Ukrainian officials meet in Saudi Arabia for ceasefire talks and to revive a critical mineral deal
BBC News - Mar. 11
Pregnant and parenting students fall victim to lawsuit targeting LGBTQ rights

When new Title IX rules for LGBTQ students were rolled back, expanded protections for student parents were tossed out, too. Now advocates hope to restore them.
NBC News - 6d
FCC unveils sweeping deregulation effort

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is planning a new effort to roll back regulations on the tech, media and telecommunications industries, the department announced Wednesday. The FCC said ...
The Hill - 5d
A breakdown of major EPA deregulatory moves around water, air, climate

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Wednesday announced nearly three dozen deregulatory moves that he said would spur the U.S. economy by rolling back rules that have ...
ABC News - 5d
A breakdown of major EPA deregulatory moves around water, air, climate

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Wednesday announced nearly three dozen deregulatory moves that he said would spur the U.S. economy by rolling back rules that have ...
ABC News - 5d
A breakdown of major EPA deregulatory moves around water, air, climate

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Wednesday announced nearly three dozen deregulatory moves that he said would spur the U.S. economy by rolling back rules that have ...
ABC News - 5d
Katamari Damacy Rolls On With Its First New Game In 8 Years

After almost a decade, Katamari is back with Katamari Damacy Rolling Live, which launches exclusively on Apple Arcade. Five other games are joining Katamari starting April 3: Space Invaders ...
GameSpot - 6d
With mass rehirings ordered and a plea to the Supreme Court, Trump's court fights scale new heights

Judges this week ordered the government to reinstate thousands of workers, while the administration turned to the Supreme Court for help rolling back judicial powers.
NBC News - 3d
Judges rule against mass firings and Tricare bills couple over $100K: Morning Rundown

Judges reverse Trump's federal mass firings. Keith Kellogg absent from Ukraine-Russia talks. Over $100,000 in denied medical bills. Supercharging gut health.
NBC News - 4d
Trump turns screws on Zelensky heading into Jeddah talks

President Trump is inflicting mounting pain on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of planned talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, as U.S. officials look to secure concessions Trump can bring ...
The Hill - Mar. 10
Maps show support for climate policies, as EPA rolls back protections

Two-thirds of Americans support a transition to clean energy by 2050, and 3 out of 4 support regulating carbon emissions, according to a long-running Yale study. These maps show the results.
CBS News - 4d
Iranian leader rejects Trump’s push for nuclear talks

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected President Trump’s push for nuclear deal talks between the two nations, arguing the initiative is only a gateway for Washington to impose new ...
The Hill - Mar. 8
Trump doesn't rule out recession as trade war stirs uncertainty

As President Donald Trump doubles down on his escalating trade war against some of the country’s biggest economic partners, he is declining to rule out a recession as economic uncertainty grows. ...
NBC News - Mar. 10
Markets plummet after Trump doesn't rule out recession

Markets plummeted Monday as investors expressed fear of an economic slowdown. In an interview that aired Sunday, President Trump was asked point blank if he's expecting a recession this year, and ...
CBS News - Mar. 10
Federal judge rules Trump must reinstate many fired federal employees

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Trump administration must reinstate probationary government employees fired unlawfully at several agencies, lambasting the Justice Department at a hearing ...
The Hill - 4d
Canada Turns to European Allies Amid Trump Threats

Days after becoming prime minister, Mark Carney visited Paris and London to highlight deep European friendships as his country fights back against President Trump’s tariffs and annexation talk.
The New York Times - 7h
Nebraska to host rising running back

Nebraska Football is set to get a visit from 2026 running back Jamal Rule. He will visit Nebraska on April 29.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Can Trump's tariff threats have an economic impact before they're imposed?

President Trump is threatening to put new tariffs on European alcohol. Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick held talks with Canada's finance minister and Ontario's premiere on the tariff ...
CBS News - 4d
Trump Administration Must Rehire Thousands of Fired Workers, Judges Rule

A federal judge called the administration’s justification for the firings of workers with probationary status a “sham.” Another ruling barred the administration from carrying out future mass ...
The New York Times - 4d
From Rams cornerstone to castoff: Cooper Kupp admits it's tough saying goodbye

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp talks about what it's like knowing his days with the Rams are almost certainly over amid the team's decision to trade him.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 8
‘Nothing like this in American history’: the crisis of Trump’s assault on the rule of law

Even if the supreme court were to resist the president’s onslaught, it has little means to enforce its decisions. When the chief justice of the US supreme court , John Roberts, delivered his ...
The Guardian - Mar. 9
President Trump doesn't rule out a recession amid tariffs against allies

President Trump on Sunday defended his tariffs against some of the United States' allies. However, the continental trade war has rattled global markets and sparked concerns about a possible ...
CBS News - Mar. 10
Dow plunges 890 points after Trump declines to rule out recession

The stock market kicked off the week with steep losses Monday after President Trump declined Sunday to rule out the U.S. economy slowing into recession. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed with ...
The Hill - Mar. 10
Trump puts pressure on Zelensky ahead of Saudi Arabia talks

Presented by GE Aerospace {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Heading into Jeddah talks, Trump puts pressure on Zelensky President Trump is inflicting ...
The Hill - Mar. 10
Senate GOP frets as Wall Street takes dip over tariffs, talk of recession

Senate Republicans expressed new worries about the economy Monday after Wall Street had one of its worst days in years amid a trade war and remarks from President Trump that did not rule out the ...
The Hill - Mar. 11
Congo says it will participate in peace talks with M23 rebels

Congo’s government says it will participate in peace talks in Angola with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that has captured key areas of Congo’s mineral-rich east
ABC News - 1d
Ship not laden with toxic chemicals, says owner

Fears over toxic chemicals are allayed, and the government says there is no evidence of foul play.
BBC News - 6d
Josh Cavallo reveals daily death threats and says football ‘toxic’ for gay players

Adelaide midfielder talks of multiple daily death threats Coming out brings ‘mountain of downsides’ for players Australia’s first out gay male professional footballer, Josh Cavallo, has said he ...
The Guardian - 3h
Iran is riven with conflict. Donald Trump’s offer of talks won’t ease it

With internal politics at their most unstable for years, the risk of escalation is rising. The letter the US president, Donald Trump, says he sent to Iran’s leadership offering to reopen talks on ...
The Guardian - Mar. 9
First-ever White House crypto summit leaves some investors unhappy

The White House hosted its first-ever “crypto summit” Friday, convening top executives from various digital asset firms to discuss the Trump administration’s commitment to rolling back the ...
NBC News - Mar. 7