On January 20th, 2025, President Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America. Trump rode the wave of his contentious presidential campaign all the way through to his first day in office, signing dozens of executive orders and rolling back 78 executive actions issued by President Biden.
Trump's actions follow the tune of his first presidency. The Trump administration rolled back over 100 environmental rules and regulations—spanning a myriad of topics from air pollution and emissions to drilling and extraction (a full list can be found here). However, the Trump administration will undoubtedly be turning up the volume this time around—as his second presidency marks a historic shift in US environmental policy. This comes as scientists confirm that 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing the 1.5°C global temperature rise threshold set in the 2015 Paris Agreement to prevent catastrophic climate impacts.
A quick look of what went down directly after his inauguration.
Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement (again). Despite being the second largest global greenhouse gas emitter, the US will become one of only 4 countries not participating in the agreement—alongside Iran, Libya, and Yemen. The withdrawal from the pact underscores the administration's focus on fossil-fuel production over clean-energy technologies, making it increasingly unlikely for the US to meet its climate goals of slashing greenhouse gas emissions 61% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Trump also declared an "energy emergency" through an executive order aimed at increasing domestic fossil fuel production, particularly in Alaska. This order halted new offshore wind projects in federal waters, and reversed Biden-era climate policies. Trump also directed the Energy Department to resume approving new liquefied natural gas export facilities and instructed the Interior Department to lift restrictions on oil and gas production.
Moreover, President Trump has taken steps to reverse electric vehicle policies by halting the distribution of unspent federal funds for EV charging stations, proposing the elimination of federal tax credits for EV purchases, and seeking to revoke waivers that allow states to set stricter zero-emission vehicle standards (e.g. California). These actions are part of a broader effort to prioritize fossil fuels and reduce support for clean energy initiatives.
Unfortunately, this is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Trump’s inaugural speech set the tone of his second presidency—a victory mandated by God, a near brush with death marking Trump a martyr. His first day in office makes it clear that Trump is comfortable exerting maximal amounts of his “divine” executive power. Fueled by his mantra “drill, baby, drill,” and with a foot on the gas, President Trump is driving the U.S. farther away from its climate commitments and environmental protections.