Latest news with #BidenEra
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
First-of-a-kind US class-action lawsuit would force EPA to reinstate $3bn climate program
The Trump administration's decision to abruptly terminate a $3bn program helping hundreds of communities prepare for climate disasters and environmental hazards is unconstitutional and should be overturned, a court will hear on Tuesday. A coalition of non-profits, tribes and local governments is suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the agency's administrator, Lee Zeldin, for terminating the entire Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) block grant program – despite a legally binding mandate from Congress to fund the Biden-era initiative. It's a first-of-a-kind proposed class-action lawsuit that would force the EPA and Zeldin to reinstate the program and each individual grant, rather than forcing the recipients to sue individually. The $3bn ECJ program was created by Congress through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – a longstanding source for ire for Trump and his polluting industry allies – to help historically disadvantaged communities come up with local solutions to improve resilience in the face of worsening climate shocks and environmental degradation. It was intended by Congress to fund community-based projects across the country to tackle longstanding and pressing environmental harms that cause death and ill health from hazards including industrial pollution, lead pipes, flooding and urban heat islands. Almost 350 rural and urban groups, towns and tribes were selected by the EPA from 2,700 applicants, through a rigorous process that included long-term accountability and oversight over the funds. In February, Zeldin's EPA, under the direction of the Trump administration, began terminating the entire ECJ program, as part of a broader assault on climate science, climate action and environmental justice measures. In June, 23 grant recipients sued after the entire block grant was terminated and the funds frozen overnight. The plaintiffs come from every region of the country and include the Indigenous village of Pipnuk in Alaska, the Deep South Centre for Environmental Justice in New Orleans, Appalachian Voices, which works with legacy coal communities, and Kalamazoo county in Michigan. Several non-profit legal advocacy groups – EarthJustice, Southern Environmental Law Center, Public Rights Project and Lawyers for Good Government – filed the proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that the wholesale termination violated the separation of powers and is therefore unconstitutional. They also argue that the Trump administration's decision was both 'arbitrary and capricious' – in other words, made without proper reasoning or consideration of the consequences, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. On Tuesday, attorneys representing the coalition will argue for preliminary relief at the US district court for the District of Columbia (DDC), to force the EPA to immediately reinstate the ECJ program and unfreeze the funds. 'This was an unlawful action that went against the will of Congress and violated the separation of powers,' said Ben Grillot, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. 'The administration terminated the entire program simply because they don't like it, without any reasoned decision making or consideration of the impacts. The decision was both arbitrary and capricious, and unconstitutional, and should be overturned.' The Trump administration has filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the DDC does not have jurisdiction, and this is a contractual case for the US court of federal claims. Under contract law, the 349 grant recipients would be forced to sue individually for breach of contract and damages, but with no possibility of the ECJ program being reinstated as Congress intended. A ruling on if and where the case continues is expected later this month. The judge will rule separately on the plaintiffs' motion for the case to proceed as a class action. The EPA said it did not comment on pending litigation.
Washington Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Mayors, doctor groups sue over Trump's efforts to restrict Obamacare enrollment
WASHINGTON — New Trump administration rules that give millions of people a shorter timeframe to sign up for the Affordable Care Act's health care coverage are facing a legal challenge from Democratic mayors around the country. The rules, rolled out last month, reverse a Biden-era effort to expand access to the Affordable Care Act's health insurance, commonly called 'Obamacare' or the ACA. The previous Democratic administration expanded the enrollment window for the coverage, which led to record enrollment.
E&E News
01-07-2025
- Business
- E&E News
EPA to amend Biden-era water pollution rule for coal plants
EPA will revise a Biden-era water regulation that seeks to limit toxic pollution from coal plants, in the Trump administration's latest attempt to bolster the struggling industry. The agency will propose extending compliance deadlines for a 2024 rule that requires coal power plants to effectively eliminate heavy metals and other pollutants from three wastewater streams. EPA will also 'explore other flexibilities' to promote use of coal for power generation, the agency said in a news release Monday. Administrator Lee Zeldin said the planned revisions would advance President Donald Trump's pro-coal agenda. Advertisement 'We know there are serious concerns about the compliance timelines, and we must consider more realistic options that may prevent the burdensome costs required by the current regulation from hurting American families,' Zeldin said in a statement.
E&E News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
EPA to propose rolling back climate rule for power plants Wednesday
The Trump administration will move Wednesday to repeal federal limits on power plant climate pollution, attacking the Biden era's most ambitious attempt to use regulations to rein in heat-trapping gases from the electric grid, according to six people familiar with the situation. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin will announce the repeal of the power plant carbon dioxide rule along with a separate regulation to curb hazardous air pollution such as mercury during an event at agency headquarters, the people said. The two repeal proposals are the most important EPA regulatory actions of President Donald Trump's second term to date. Without offering details, EPA said Tuesday that Zeldin will make a 'major policy announcement' at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Advertisement Scrapping the Biden-era power plant rule would effectively shelve regulations for the nation's second-biggest producer of climate pollution — the electricity sector — which accounts for one-quarter of U.S. greenhouse gases.
The Independent
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fox News' Jesse Watters claims that Sports Illustrated swimsuit models were ‘obese' during the Biden era
Fox News host Jesse Watters claimed that America's swimsuit models were obese during the four years of Joe Biden 's presidency. During a weekend instalment of Jesse Watters Primetime in which the host and pundit Julie Banderas were discussing the latest Sports Illustrated runway show in Miami, the latter described the event as 'a great strip show,' adding archly: 'Did you see what they weren't wearing?' 'This is a strip show?' Watters responded. 'No, it was a Sports Illustrated runway walk, but none of them actually have covered their behinds,' Banderas replied. 'But that's not my issue.' Pivoting to discussing model Livvy Dunne, who had performed the splits on the catwalk, the pundit continued: 'I don't have a problem with her because she actually was a gymnast and she actually did compete for the national championships for LSU [Louisiana State University]. 'I have competitive gymnast kids, so I respect that she can do a split. I don't know if doing it in a thong is appropriate.' From there, Watters began to riff: 'Remember back in the Biden era, all of the swimsuit models were obese. This is a good change. This is a healthy change of pace.' 'And it is Sports Illustrated,' Banderas chimed in, without picking him up on the observation. 'They're athletes. She's obviously very athletic. I mean, that's all I was thinking about. Weren't you? Weren't you thinking about her athletic ability when she made that turn there? Like right now, you're probably thinking she's probably really good at squats.' 'I'm not even looking at the screen,' Watters joked, before challenging Banderas to speculate on the extent of his own athletic prowess. 'How flexible do you think I am? Do you think I could do a straddle?' This controversial remark is far from a first for Watters.
