In a bold reversal of recent climate policy trends, former President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order designed to shield fossil fuel companies from state-level penalties tied to greenhouse gas emissions. Titled “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach,” the order aims to eliminate what Trump describes as burdensome regulations that “threaten American energy independence and prosperity.”

The executive order specifically targets legislation like New York State’s Climate Change Superfund Act, which proposes to hold major fossil fuel companies accountable for their historical contributions to climate change. Under this law, oil and gas firms would be expected to collectively pay an estimated $75 billion between now and 2050 to help fund infrastructure adaptations to climate-related risks. That translates to roughly $3 billion annually—an amount that has sparked fierce debate between environmental advocates and industry-aligned politicians.

In his order, Trump denounced the New York initiative as “a climate change extortion law,” and also pointed to similar measures in Vermont and California, including California’s cap-and-trade system that requires companies to buy allowances if their emissions exceed set thresholds. Trump’s move signals a direct challenge to these state-led climate initiatives, framing them as unlawful encroachments on federal jurisdiction and barriers to domestic energy development.

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The order instructs the U.S. Attorney General to compile and scrutinize all local and state policies that could be deemed unconstitutional under federal law, particularly those associated with climate change, ESG practices, environmental justice, or carbon regulation. It also authorizes the Justice Department to take legal action to halt their enforcement, setting up potential courtroom battles between federal agencies and environmentally progressive states.

“These State laws and policies are fundamentally irreconcilable with my Administration’s objective to unleash American energy,” Trump stated in the executive order. “They should not stand.”

This latest development underscores the deepening ideological divide in U.S. climate governance. While Democratic-led states continue to implement aggressive environmental regulations, Trump’s renewed push to dismantle climate policy reflects a broader strategy to prioritize fossil fuel production and roll back ESG-related governance.

Legal experts now anticipate a wave of litigation as federal and state authorities clash over constitutional boundaries and the future of climate accountability. The outcome could reshape the regulatory landscape for energy companies, environmental liabilities, and the authority of states to chart their own paths toward sustainability.

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