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Trump declares all state environmental laws to be null and void

Originally published: Diane Ravitch Blog on April 10, 2025 by Diane Ravitch (more by Diane Ravitch Blog) (Posted Apr 11, 2025)

Trump signed an executive order declaring all state laws that address climate change to be null and void. He claims that efforts to protect the environment are a hindrance to energy production. So ignoring climate change is important to national security because we need oil and gas more than we need clean air and water.

Remember when Trump said he was eliminating the Departnent of Education because states should manage their own schools and the federal government should get out of the way? Why can’t states make decisions about clean air, clean water, and auto efficiency?

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