Deeper Cuts at EPA. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a detailed plan to achieve a 31 percent budget cut, as outlined by President Trump's budget blueprint. EPA plans to lay off 25 percent of its workforce and scrap 56 programs, including those related to pesticide safety, water runoff control, and climate protection programs. The Administration defended the cuts, noting they are devolving authority to the states, localities, and in some cases, corporations. But with many states dependent upon federal programs and grants, their elimination could create a situation where no one is protecting our environment.

Fox News pushes Pruitt on climate science. During an interview with Chris Wallace, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt walked back his claims last month that carbon dioxide is not a primary driver of climate change, and said, "human activity contributes to the change in some measures. The real issue is how much we contribute to it and measuring that with precision." Pruitt's change of heart follows reports that the EPA's Scientific Integrity Office is reviewing whether Pruitt's previous comments on carbon dioxide violated the agency's policies.

More EOs. More problems. President Trump is preparing to issue a new executive order expanding offshore drilling. The executive order is expected to reverse President Obama's decision to withdraw most Atlantic and Arctic waters from future leasing. However, there is a question of whether Trump can take the unprecedented steps of reversing a presidential designation. In December 2016, President Obama took action under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act that allows the president to retire lands from leasing. The Act does not say the president can reinstate lands.

Risky Regulations. EPA proposed to delay the effective date of a final rule amending the Risk Management Program regulations under the Clean Air Act by about two years. The risk management regulations are intended to ensure that companies have measures in place to prevent chemical accidents that could affect our air quality. The EPA wants more time to "consider petitions for reconsideration of this final rule and take further regulatory action, which could include proposing and finalizing a rule to revise the Risk Management Program amendments." A public hearing on the rule will be held on April 19, 2017, in Washington, D.C.

We'll always have Paris? Maybe. The CEO of coal producer Cloud Peaker Energy sent a letter to President Trump this week suggesting the United States remain in the Paris Agreement, but modify commitments to allow for the use of clean-coal and carbon capture and utilization technologies. Propping up coal is counter to market forces that are favoring clean and non-emission electricity, such as natural gas and renewables. Moreover, the median age of coal-fired generators in the United States that retired in 2015 was 58 years old. Replacing these plants with cleaner technologies will have long-term implications, since many energy projects have lifetimes greater than 30 years.

Dead unicorns never stay dead. It was reported this week the White House is considering a carbon tax and a value-added tax as new sources of revenue to pay for tax reform, reflecting the Administration's growing recognition of the political realities of passing comprehensive tax reform. The Administration was initially banking on repealing the Affordable Care Act (i.e., Obamacare) to pay for tax reform, but are now searching for new revenue sources to offset cuts to individual and corporate tax rates. The White House quickly put out a statement saying "neither a carbon tax nor a VAT are under consideration." Both value-added and carbon taxes are regressive, which have greater impacts on those with lower incomes, though both taxes could be designed to reduce their regressivity.

Clean Power Plan legal challenge. The coalition of 17 states and environmental groups that backed the Clean Power Plan filed a legal challenge this week urging the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the Trump Administration's request to pause the legal proceedings pending review of the regulation. The coalition argues EPA must limit carbon pollution from power plants, and that EPA's vague plans to review the regulation could cause an indefinite delay in the process.

Personnel news. On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke appointed two deputy assistant secretaries. Aurelia Skipwith will serve as the deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife, and parks. Skipwith was a co-founder and general counsel for AVC Global, which provides a mobile computing platform for farmers, and previously worked at Monsanto. Katherine MacGregor will serve as the deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management. MacGregor was a senior aide to the House Natural Resources Committee Republicans, and served on the "beachhead" team at the Department of Interior, which help facilitate Trump's transition with the Department after his inauguration.

What you can do

• Call your Member of Congress to express your concerns over Trump's proposed budget cuts, especially to the EPA.
• Call your Senator to oppose use of the Congressional Review Act on the Department of Interior's methane rule, particularly if you live in Ohio or Colorado.
• Call your Member of Congress and ask them to join the call for an investigation into EPA Administrator Pruitt's close ties to the fossil fuel industry.

- Energy & Environment Policy Working Group, RISE Stronger

Have comments or something to add? Contact the RISE Energy & Environment Policy Working Group at [email protected]