Today, Donald Trump signed an executive order illegally instructing the Department of Justice to identify and block enforcement of state and local laws to tackle climate change—including efforts to cut climate pollution, hold corporate polluters accountable, and advance environmental justice initiatives. In response, Evergreen Action States Vice President Justin Balik released the following statement:

“Donald Trump just declared war on state and local governments. By directing the Justice Department to identify any state or local law that challenges fossil fuel dominance, Trump is shredding the Constitution to appease Big Oil. This order is obviously blatantly unconstitutional—but it’s also a direct assault on American democracy, federalism, and the rule of law. Communities across the country will pay the price through higher energy bills, dirtier air, and lost jobs.

“Republicans love to talk about states’ rights—until corporate polluters tell them otherwise. This directive would let fossil fuel companies off the hook for decades of harm and hand the federal government unchecked power to crush states trying to protect their people. It also risks bedrock climate policies that have been in place for years. This is federal tyranny, plain and simple. It’s authoritarian, it’s lawless, and if allowed to stand, will devastate entire communities and demolish the very idea of government by the people.”

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