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The EJ Movement during Trump 2.0

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Reminders

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Trump 2.0 Actions

  • Pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement
  • Declaring a “national energy emergency,” doubling down on oil and gas
  • Faster permitting for energy; harsh words for Endangered Species Act and Arctic protections
  • Revoking Biden’s goals on electric vehicles
  • Eliminate environmental justice
  • Gutting the National Environmental Protection Act
  • Directing agencies to make deregulation recommendations to DOGE

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  • Stripping independent agencies of independence
  • Revoking Biden Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice Executive Actions
  • Eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
  • Freezing of all federal grants and loans
  • Scrubbing "climate change" from federal websites
  • Firing EPA staff
  • Halting approval of renewables
  • Rescinding all CEQ regulatory authority

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“ENDING RADICAL AND WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT DEI�PROGRAMS AND PREFERENCING”�

Trump Executive Order

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The Bad: Executive Order January 20, 2025

  • Terminates all DEI and environmental justice programs and positions in the government.

  • Terminates all “equity” programs and positions, “equity action” plans, and “equity-related” grants or contracts.

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More Bad: Executive Order January 21, 2025

  • All agencies ordered to combat “illegal” private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies and activities.
  • All federal contracts must certify that the recipient does not promote DEI.
  • Orders a plan to “deter” DEI programs or principles in private sector and in higher education through civil compliance investigations.

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Even More Bad: The Language and Framing

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  • DEI called “illegal,” “immoral,” “dangerous,” “demeaning,” “pernicious,” corrosive.”

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  • DEI “infiltrated” the federal government.

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The Ugly: Attorney General’s Memo 02/05/2025

  • The DOJ Civil Rights Division will “investigate, eliminate, an penalize” illegal DEI policies and programs in the private sector and higher education.

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  • Seeks 9 civil compliance investigations plus “proposals for criminal investigations.”

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The Good: Maryland Federal Court Order 02/21/25

  • Granted a preliminary injunction (a stop order) against most enforcement of the EOs and AG Memo.

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  • Found that the EOs and Memo were unconstitutionally vague and infringed on free speech.

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IRA 2022

  • Federal law
  • Biggest climate bill in our nation’s history
  • Spending: makes investments in agriculture, coastal restoration, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and transportation.
  • Tackle climate crisis
  • Advance environmental justice
  • Tax credits for consumers
  • Incentives

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IRA Tax Expenditures

  • IRA expanded & altered existing programs and created new ones.
  • Existing programs that were expanded and altered:
    • PTC/ITC for clean energy (Section 45)
    • EV Tax Credit (Section 30D)
    • EV Charging Infrastructure Tax Credit (30C)
    • Home Energy Tax Credits (Section 25C/45L)
    • Renewable Fuels & Biofuels Tax Credits (40A, 45Z, etc.)
    • Carbon Capture Tax Credit (Section 45Q)

Adam D. Orford - 12

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IRA Tax Expenditures (cont.)

  • New programs that were created:
    • Tech-neutral PTC/ITC (Sections 45Y, 45E, replacing 45 & 48)
    • Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit (Section 45X)
    • Clean hydrogen production tax credit (Section 45V)
    • Nuclear Power Production Tax Credit (45U)
    • Commercial Clean Vehicle Tax Credit (45W)
    • Sustainable Aviation Fuel Credit (40B)

Adam D. Orford - 13

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Emerging Implications of Trump 2.0

  • Extraordinary time for spending policy as climate tool
  • Wind development ban
  • Spending freeze
  • Civil service erosion
  • Agency targeting
  • DOJ politicization
  • Next big question: injunction defiance?

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Call to Action

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Track + Learn + Move

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