Obama Administration

"The war on coal is over," says EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

October 9, 2017 - The Washington Post

The U.S. Department of Transportation quietly killed an Obama Administration program that would have been the only federal level local hiring initiative.

August 28, 2017 - The New York Times

An analysis of trends in energy-efficiency improvements reveals the success of policies enacted during the previous decades.

August 10, 2017 - Harvard Center for Joint Housing Studies

David Bookbinder argues that the Obama Administration dragged its feet on climate change, only implementing last-minute actions that will be easy to reverse.

May 18, 2017 - Vox

The first environmental regulation to be rescinded under President Trump was the Stream Protection Rule. It will not be the last. The president has his eyes on a rule that limits greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants.

February 23, 2017 - The Washington Post

A roundup of articles summarizing the final days of the Obama Administration, as well as a peek at Planetizen's eight-year archive of President Obama's policies in the world of planning.

January 20, 2017 - James Brasuell

A CityLab interview with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, who served in the position since 2013 during some of the most frantic technological innovation in transportation since the dam of the age of the automobile.

January 2, 2017 - CityLab

Before this week, President Obama added more acreage to national monuments than any previous president. The final 1.35 million acres, designated this week, are a controversial final flourish.

December 29, 2016 - The Washington Post

Some of the effects of the Obama Administration will take years to appear, but a new book already begins the process of taking stock of the administration's efforts to support and improve cities.

December 28, 2016 - CityLab

The Obama Administration recently offered a parting gesture toward better coordination between the federal government and local and regional municipalities.

November 19, 2016 - Next City

The Obama Administration is offering another $80 million in funding to test new transportation technologies.

September 30, 2016 - Next City

Welcome, President Obama, to the NIMBY wars.

September 30, 2016 - Planetizen

A new paper released by the White House offers a toolkit of economic evidence and policy recommendations designed to help cities overcome local opposition to development.

September 26, 2016 - Politico

A new policy from the Obama Administration asks government to calculate, and attempt to lower, their carbon emissions.

August 15, 2016 - Washington Post

Opponents of federal oversight rejoice: a ruling by U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl reiterates the limitations of the federal government to regulate fracking.

June 23, 2016 - KUOW

A press release and fact sheet about the accomplishments of the Obama Administration's "Better Building Initiative" includes three new national programs designed to improve the efficiency and resilience of the built environment.

May 12, 2016 - The White House

Among the wish list of spending priorities included in the Obama Administration's draft federal budget—$11 billion in funding to address family homelessness.

February 9, 2016 - The New York Times

A Houston Chronicle business columnist argues in defense of the Obama Administration's new environmental rules.

August 18, 2015 - Houston Chronicle

A new phase of President Obama's Promise Zone anti-poverty initiative will take place simultaneously in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. AmeriCorps staff will be on hand to provide career coaching to high school students.

August 7, 2015 - Next City

An interview with a leading academic on the subject of fair housing offers perspective on the new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

July 25, 2015 - Salon