Executive Order
Issued in August 2017
Policy Summary
Trump promised his voters that he would roll out a trillion-dollar infrastructure project to fix the country’s aging highways. He mentioned this plan when he addressed a joint session of Congress claiming that “Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, and railways gleaming across our beautiful land. The time has come for a new program of national rebuilding.” Since he has been unsuccessful in getting infrastructure legislation passed or even started, Trump tried to address infrastructure through an Executive Order. The Executive Order lessens Federal Government requirements for environmental impact assessment and permitting on Federal projects. It rolls back Obama-era rules that attempted to reduce exposure to flooding, sea level rise, and other consequences of climate change. LEARN MORE
Analysis
This executive order covers almost all government infrastructure projects in every sector. Traditionally, infrastructure projects require environmental impact assessments and permitting. As a result of this executive order, Trump will lessen the rigor of these environmental impact statements and shorter the permitting process. Maintaining environmental assessments is crucial (especially after Hurricane Harvey and Irma) to protect our environment and mitigate the impact of climate change. Moreover, the relaxing of environmental impact requirements is not going to result in better infrastructure. In the era in which we live, new roads, bridges, and other types of infrastructure investments that take environmental issues into account are likely to be sustainable and beneficial to the communities they serve. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Laborers’ International Union of North America – The Build America union – half a million strong fighting for better wages and benefits, safer job sites and greater opportunity for construction workers.
- Town Hall Project– This project compiles the open-to-the-public events held by state and local representatives. This provides a great opportunity to tell them that this executive order will do more bad than good. You can also dial 1-844-6-RESIST to be redirected to the office of your local member of Congress.
- US Senate – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
- US House of Representatives – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
This brief was compiled by Vaibhav Kumar. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact vaibhav@usresistnews.org.
