Trump administration orders halt on new environmental lawsuits. Image: NDTV
(The Post News)- The Trump administration has halted environmental lawsuits and reassigned four Justice Department attorneys specializing in environmental issues and a pair of memos.
According to one of the memos, change ensures the federal government speaks with one voice. This allows the president’s appointees to decide new environmental cases nationwide.
The Environment and Natural Resources Division enforces environmental laws, prosecuting pollution and defending government agencies in court nationwide. The four section chiefs were notified via email that they had 15 days to accept a new assignment to the newly established Sanctuary City Working Group. If not, they face adverse consequences.
The sources are not authorized to speak to the media and shall remain anonymous. These sources said the reassignment of the officials has not been provided more details about their new assignments.
Trump dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” rolled back regulations, and withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement. Four sources familiar with the matter said four other Justice Department employees were placed on paid administrative leave this week. Four officials, including Cynthia Ferguson and Lana Pettus, were placed on leave from environmental justice and prosecution roles. This week, the Trump administration ordered that all federal government employees involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion matters be placed on leave. Moreover, he also called for the elimination of any office position involving environmental justice.
Furthermore, on Thursday morning, the order to freeze all pending environmental regulations, impacting ongoing policy implementations and reviews nationwide, was placed immediately. A similar memo halted Civil Rights Division litigation, including police reform settlements in Minneapolis and Louisville, pending review.
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