As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for a second term, one of his primary goals is to scale back environmental regulations that he believes hinder economic growth. Trump’s deregulatory agenda includes significant cuts to rules on climate change, air quality, water protection, and more. His nomination of Lee Zeldin to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signals that the administration intends to accelerate the process of dismantling environmental protections. While business groups and conservative leaders applaud this agenda, states like New Jersey, which have made substantial efforts to combat climate change and pollution, are gearing up for a battle to protect their environmental standards.
New Jersey has long been a leader in environmental protection, particularly in its efforts to combat climate change, clean up pollution, and safeguard its water and air quality. As Trump’s administration seeks to roll back federal regulations, New Jersey is expected to face several challenges. The state is preparing to defend its stringent environmental policies and could be forced to take legal action to preserve protections that directly impact its residents and industries.
Impact of Trump’s Deregulatory Agenda on New Jersey
- Climate Change and Clean Energy Protections New Jersey has been at the forefront of addressing climate change through policies such as its participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the adoption of the Global Warming Response Act, which set ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Trump’s rollback of federal climate rules, including limits on power plant emissions and methane leaks from oil and gas operations, could directly undermine these efforts.While New Jersey has made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint, Trump’s deregulatory push could impede the progress that the state has made. If federal regulations are weakened, New Jersey’s leaders may need to rely even more heavily on state-level initiatives to ensure continued progress. This could include further strengthening emission standards, investing in clean energy technologies, and potentially implementing stronger policies to combat methane leaks from oil and gas operations.
- Automotive Emissions Standards and California Waivers A major focus of Trump’s first term was his attempt to strip California of its ability to set stricter auto emissions standards, which are followed by several other states, including New Jersey. The state has adopted California’s emissions standards for light-duty vehicles, as these standards are more stringent than federal rules. If Trump’s administration successfully revokes California’s waivers under the Clean Air Act, it could disrupt New Jersey’s efforts to reduce air pollution from vehicles.New Jersey, which is one of the states that follows California’s stricter vehicle emission standards, may be forced to challenge such actions in court. If Trump’s EPA attempts to revoke these waivers, New Jersey would likely be a key player in defending the state’s ability to set its own emissions standards, which are vital for improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Water Protection and PFAS (Forever Chemicals) New Jersey has long been committed to safeguarding its water resources, especially in the wake of contamination crises such as those in Newark, where lead in drinking water became a major issue. Additionally, the state has been addressing the growing concern over PFAS, a class of chemicals found in a variety of consumer products that have been linked to serious health risks. New Jersey has taken proactive steps to regulate PFAS contamination, setting drinking water standards that are stricter than those at the federal level.If Trump’s administration weakens regulations surrounding PFAS or other water quality protections, New Jersey could face significant challenges in maintaining its own standards. Given the growing concern about “forever chemicals,” state officials in New Jersey are likely to continue pushing for stronger protections at the state level. Environmental groups in New Jersey, such as the New Jersey Environmental Federation, are also expected to play a key role in advocating for these safeguards, potentially pushing for state laws that go beyond federal regulations.
- Oil and Gas Drilling and Offshore Leases Trump’s administration is expected to ramp up oil drilling on public lands and cancel funding for clean energy projects, including offshore wind energy development. For New Jersey, this could be particularly problematic, as the state has invested heavily in offshore wind energy to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Trump’s focus on expanding fossil fuel extraction could undermine New Jersey’s efforts to transition to renewable energy.New Jersey has been working to expand its offshore wind capacity, with several projects already in the pipeline. If federal policies favoring fossil fuel extraction are strengthened under Trump’s second term, New Jersey could face challenges in ensuring that its offshore wind initiatives are not obstructed. State leaders may need to take a more aggressive stance to protect these projects and continue the shift toward clean energy.
New Jersey’s Legal and Legislative Responses
As with other states, New Jersey is likely to fight back through a combination of legal challenges and state-level legislation. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin could be one of the key figures in leading legal battles against Trump’s deregulatory actions. New Jersey has a history of filing lawsuits to protect its environmental policies, and it is expected to continue this tradition, particularly if the federal government attempts to dismantle protections related to climate change, air quality, or water safety.
New Jersey lawmakers are also preparing to pass new state laws to fill any gaps left by weakened federal regulations. For example, the state could seek to adopt stronger emission standards for vehicles, enforce stricter water quality controls, and create new protections for endangered species and habitats that could be impacted by federal rollbacks. Given the state’s commitment to environmental sustainability, New Jersey lawmakers will likely take a proactive approach to safeguard the state’s natural resources, even if it means conflicting with the federal government.
The Road Ahead
New Jersey is entering a period of uncertainty as it braces for the potential consequences of Trump’s deregulatory agenda. With a strong commitment to climate action and environmental protection, the state will face significant challenges in defending its policies. However, New Jersey has a long history of environmental advocacy and is likely to continue its legal and legislative battles to ensure that its residents have access to clean air, water, and a safe environment.
As the Trump administration moves forward with its deregulatory plans, the coming years will likely see a heightened focus on state-level actions in New Jersey and other states that prioritize environmental protection. The state’s efforts to fight back through the courts, legislative action, and continued investment in clean energy could shape the future of environmental policy in New Jersey and beyond, creating a complex and dynamic landscape of state-federal relations in environmental law.
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One of his central promises is to significantly reduce environmental regulations, particularly those governing climate change, air quality, and water protection. His deregulatory agenda includes rolling back federal rules on everything from auto emissions and power plant pollution to drinking water standards. Trump has nominated Lee Zeldin to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), emphasizing that Zeldin will expedite the rollback of regulations to stimulate American business.
Business groups and Republican leaders have largely supported Trump’s environmental plans, arguing that stringent regulations harm economic growth. However, in states that have taken significant action to combat climate change and pollution, attorneys general and lawmakers are already preparing for battle. They plan to challenge these rollbacks through lawsuits, enacting state-level regulations, and increasing staffing at state environmental agencies.
California, in particular, has been at the forefront of this effort. The state has already been tested by Trump’s first term, during which his administration attempted to undo more than 100 environmental rules. Many of these rollbacks were blocked by courts after legal challenges. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office was involved in many of these cases, warned that Trump’s administration would likely continue to break the law in its deregulatory push. Bonta has requested additional resources for his office to ensure that California is prepared for the ongoing legal battles that are expected to intensify in the coming years.
One area of particular concern is California’s special waivers under the Clean Air Act, which allow the state to set stricter auto emissions standards than the federal government. This issue was a central focus during Trump’s first term, when his administration attempted to revoke these waivers. Environmental advocates fear that a conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court could rule in favor of these rollbacks, which would affect not just California but also other states that follow its emissions standards.
In addition to challenges to California’s authority over auto emissions, Trump’s second term is expected to target other environmental regulations, such as power plant emissions, methane leaks from oil and gas operations, and restrictions on PFAS (forever chemicals). Environmental groups are concerned that these rollbacks would reverse progress made under the Biden administration, particularly in the fight against climate change.
States have responded by preparing to enact their own protections. For example, California previously considered a bill that would have provided state-level protections for endangered species in the event that Trump’s administration weakened federal protections. While that bill did not pass, there is renewed interest in similar state-level protections as Trump’s second term approaches. States could also seek to set stricter standards on water quality and other environmental issues, using state law to “backstop” weakened federal protections.
Environmental advocates expect a prolonged and intense legal struggle, with many states gearing up for a sustained defense of their environmental laws. They argue that states will continue to push for stronger environmental protections, regardless of federal actions, because the demand for clean air, water, and environmental safety remains high. Additionally, as Trump is expected to cut funding and staffing for the EPA, states may need to shoulder more of the responsibility for monitoring and enforcing environmental regulations.
In states like Massachusetts, lawmakers have expressed concerns that staffing shortages at both the state and federal levels could hamper efforts to protect the environment. Massachusetts state Senator Jamie Eldridge emphasized the need for state agencies to pick up the slack if federal cuts occur. Other states, like New York, have also struggled with insufficient resources to implement environmental safeguards, and they may need to bolster their agencies to meet the growing challenges posed by Trump’s deregulatory agenda.
In short, the coming years will likely see a continuation of the “trench warfare” in the courts between state governments and the federal administration over environmental protections. States will continue to pursue aggressive legal strategies, enact their own regulations, and fight to protect their environmental standards, creating a complex and contentious battle over the future of U.S. environmental policy.
Morris County’s Open Space Trust Fund Committee
