Sharp Decline in Federal Environmental Enforcement Under Trump’s Second Term

Federal action against environmental violators has fallen dramatically during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a report by the Environmental Integrity Project. The Justice Department filed just 16 civil cases referred by the Environmental Protection Agency after January 20, 2025 — a 76 percent decrease compared to the first year of the Biden administration. By contrast, Trump’s first term saw 86 cases in its opening year, while the Obama administration initiated 127.

The downturn comes amid a broad deregulatory push. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced sweeping rollbacks of air and water pollution rules and introduced a “compliance first” strategy that favors informal resolutions over formal penalties. Staffing reductions at both the EPA and the Justice Department have also affected enforcement capacity. Although some administrative actions increased, overall penalties declined, raising concerns among environmental advocates about weakening deterrence and potential public health impacts.

10-02-2026