New York’s DEC commissioner responds to Trump’s executive order on state overreach regarding climate issues
New York /
| 11 Apr 2025 | 12:19
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton says New York’s air is cleaner than it has been in decades, driven largely by the State’s strong environmental laws and regulations. Photo illustration by Chris LeBoutillier via www.pexels.com.
Editor’s note
In an executive order signed last week, President Donald Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to “stop the enforcement of State laws” on climate change that the administration says are unconstitutional, unenforceable or preempted by federal laws.
The order names California, New York and Vermont as specific targets, while also listing a broad range of state policies that the administration would seek to nullify — from cap-and-trade systems to permitting rules.
The executive order also targets the array of lawsuits that mostly Democratic-led states, cities and counties have brought against oil majors, seeking compensation for the ravages of climate change, such as rising tides and more frequent wildfires.
“These State laws and policies are fundamentally irreconcilable with my Administration’s objective to unleash American energy,” Trump said in the order. “They should not stand.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton responded with the following statement:
New York’s air is cleaner than it has been in decades, driven largely by the State’s strong environmental laws and regulations.
In the last 20 years alone, we have made big reductions in air pollution from the state’s largest facilities, like particulate matter (90 percent), sulfur dioxide (98 percent), nitrogen oxides (84 percent) and hazardous air pollutants (72 percent), improving air quality in communities statewide, particularly those that bear the brunt of environmental pollution.
Prioritizing environmental justice by protecting those communities and tackling climate change through initiatives like the Climate Superfund is crucial.
New York State is committed to safeguarding its clean air and water and we will vigorously defend our constitutional authority to build on our progress.