@realTuckFrumper #LeeZeldin #LeeZeldinEPA #RepublicansHateTheUSA

The order by US Dist Judge #Chutkan prevents—for now—the #EPA from ending the $20B #grant program.

Chutkan's order also blocks #Citibank, which holds the money on behalf of the EPA, from transferring the money back to the govt or anyone.

#ClimateUnitedFund & other groups sued #Trump’s EPA, its admin #LeeZeldin & Citibank, saying they had illegally denied the groups access to $14B awarded last year through the #GreenhouseGas Reduction Fund, commonly referred to as a “green bank."

In a statement, #LeeZeldin suggested that #EnvironmentalJustice — which the #EPA defined in 2013 as “the fair treatment & meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income” w/respect to #EnvironmentalLaw — was tantamount to discrimination. [BS]

“President Trump was elected with a mandate from the American people,” [wrong] Zeldin said. “Part of this mandate includes the elimination of *forced* discrimination programs.”

#LeeZeldin’s move effectively ends 3 decades of work at the #EPA to try to ease the #pollution that burdens #poor & #minority communities, which are frequently located near #highways, #PowerPlants, #industrial plants & other polluting facilities. Studies have shown that people who live in those #communities have higher rates of #asthma, #HeartDisease & other #health problems, compared w/the national average.

After some #FederalAgencies told their employees not to respond because of national security concerns, Musk now says employees could simply say they’re working on #classified matters.

#Musk refused to share how many federal jobs they are seeking to eliminate, saying he wants to keep people who are doing *good work* in *essential* roles. [presumably by his & Trump’s metrics]

#Trump said that #LeeZeldin, the new #EPA administrator, plans to cut up to 65% of his employees .

#USpol #Cabinet

On the 1st day of his 2nd term, #Trump signed an #ExecutiveOrder that tasked the #EPA w/reviewing the “legality & continuing applicability of” the #endangerment finding. The order gave #LeeZeldin 30 days to submit recommendations to #RussVought, the head of #OMB [& #Project2025 architect].

…Mandy Gunasekara, who served as EPA chief of staff at the end of Trump’s 1st term & wrote the EPA chpt in the conservative #Project2025, has been advising the admin on repealing the finding….

Swift & unprecedented: EPA braces for massive upheaval under Trump
https://www.science.org/content/article/swift-and-unprecedented-epa-braces-massive-upheaval-under-trump

* EPA assesses risks to human health/environment
* Trump2 administration will loosen environ. regs/downplay science
* American Chemistry Council: shed rules; approve new chemicals
* American Petroleum Institute: revoke regulations, fees

#USpol #LeeZeldin #EPA
#GOP #Trump2 #Project2025
#billionaires #capitalism #libertarianism
#API #FossilFuelsLobby
#EcologicalDestruction #ClimateDenial #GlobalWarming

Trump picked Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA. What will that mean for environmental policy?
https://grist.org/article/donald-trump-lee-zeldin-epa-environmental-policy

Expect:
* deregulation justified as boosts for economy
* platitudes [meaningless statements] about importance of clean air/water

* Fox News interview: Zeldin talked vaguely about reversing slate of regulations “forcing businesses to struggle/sending American jobs overseas“

#AFPI #ClimateDenial
#GOP #Trump2 #fascism #LeeZeldin #EPA
#billionaires #TimDunn #CharlesKoch #libertarianism