Several executive orders signed on Monday seek to repeal Obama- and Biden-era environmental regulations and roll back goals to encourage the shift to electric vehicles.

Climate activists and electric vehicle advocates are closely watching President Trump’s executive orders, many of which are aimed at rolling back Biden-era climate regulations and (non-binding) electrification goals.
Language in an executive order issued by Trump on Monday would roll back a federal exemption that allowed California and other states to mandate the phasing out of gas-powered vehicles and puts a pause on funding for EV charging infrastructure, according to an Associated Press article. It also attempts to eliminate EPA rules on greenhouse gas emissions for transportation and indicates the administration will push to eliminate the federal EV tax credit.
In a statement, the Union of Concerned Scientists criticized Trump’s “attack” on science, saying, “Standards incentivizing lower tailpipe emissions and higher fuel efficiency for cars and trucks have been a cornerstone in the fight against air pollution, successfully reducing global warming pollution smog and soot, while saving consumers billions of dollars at the gas pump. Rescinding these lifesaving standards places fossil fuel industry interests above all else and would be devastating for people and the planet.”
The New York Times’ Lisa Friedman outlines other climate-related orders signed on Monday, including one that withdraws the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and another that attempts to unlock more federal lands for oil drilling and fossil fuel extraction by declaring a national “energy emergency.” According to Friedman, “Collectively, the executive orders put the United States on a path to increasing production of coal, oil and gas at a time when scientists say governments must rapidly pivot away from fossil fuels, the burning of which is dangerously heating the planet.” More alarmingly, “Buried deep inside Trump’s order on ‘unleashing American energy’ is a directive that would not just end climate regulations, but would also make sure no future administration could ever curb dangerous emissions from fossil fuels” by rescinding what is known as the ‘endangerment finding.’
The majority of Trump’s executive orders are expected to face legal challenges and, even if valid, will require time-consuming processes to repeal and change regulations.
FULL STORY: 3 of the Most Important Trump Executive Orders on Climate

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

San Antonio Remains Affordable as City Grows
The city’s active efforts to keep housing costs down through housing reforms and coordinated efforts among city agencies and developers have kept it one of the most affordable in the nation despite its rapid population growth.

What Forest Service Cuts Mean for Cities
U.S. Forest Service employees work on projects that have impacts far beyond remote, rural wilderness areas.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland