On this episode of the Environmental Law Monitor, Daniel Pope and Taylor Stuart discuss the shifting landscape
under the new Trump administration, comparing regulatory actions
and priorities with those of previous administration, and delve
into the complexities of NEPA regulations, endangered species and
the impact of political changes on environmental legal practice.
They explore how these transitions will affect legal practitioners
and the energy sector and speculate on what to expect in the coming
months.

Episode Highlights

[2:50] The Trump Administration’s Approach to
NEPA: Taylor and Daniel discuss the significant actions
from the Trump administration impacting environmental law, namely
the Council on Environmental Quality’s action to remove NEPA
regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations. They briefly
review the current state of NEPA and its impact on federal
agencies.

[9:05] The Impact of Federal Workforce Downsizing on
Environmental Law Space: Environmental legal practitioners
will likely see a shift in their day-to-day work, particularly if
they communicate often with agencies. Taylor expects to see an
uptick in citizen lawsuits by NGOs challenging Trump’s
administrative actions.

[12:51] The Trump Administration’s Efforts to Roll
Back Environmental Regulations: Taylor and Daniel discuss
the current administration’s positions on the Good Neighbor
Rule and the Endangered Species Act, litigation surrounding these
regulations/rules and the complexities around overturning them.

[24:28] Trump 2.0 vs. Trump 1.0: Compared to
the first administration, the second Trump administration is much
more prepared to carry out its environment agenda. Taylor expects
to see progress on and clarity around energy and environmental
issues, especially given the administration’s prioritization of
energy independence.

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