A Dangerous Rollback
On November 17, the Trump administration proposed stripping the EPA of its authority to monitor and regulate 65 million acres of wetlands and streams. This leaves the agency with only about 15% of the land it originally oversaw. Here we go again—another step toward harming our own country. Polluting the very water we drink is a fast path to putting public health at risk. And all of this is done to appease farmers, developers, drillers, and petrochemical companies looking to avoid environmental compliance costs. Only God knows what Trump gained from these industries. What’s clear is that the American people lose.
Clean Water Under Threat
We’ve written before about the importance of clean water, but concern for the land has never been Trump’s priority. The EPA once issued permits to keep our waters clean; now the burden falls on us to push back against polluters. Instead of progress, we are moving backward. This new rule means more unsafe drinking water—something Americans should never have to worry about. At this rate, we may all need to install reverse osmosis filters just to trust our tap water.
Who Benefits—and Who Pays
Real estate developers and some farmers are thrilled, since looser rules lower their costs and increase development opportunities. But at what price? I’m writing this from Kauai, where I kayak the Hanalei River. It’s beautiful—but you can’t swim in it because of runoff from the taro farms. If this rule goes through, pollution could affect 55% of U.S. drinking water supplies. We have only 45 days to object. The proposal is in the Federal Register, and now is the time to speak up. Contact your representatives—if they’ll listen. Write to Trump. Say something.
Why Is One Person Making Decisions for Millions?
The bigger question is: why do we allow one person to make decisions that harm millions? This is not democracy. It is rule by ego. When you’re born into wealth, caring for the land is often an afterthought; golf courses and real estate deals come first. Trump hides behind the promise of “growth,” yet he has weakened fuel emission standards, allowed more mercury and methane pollution, revoked the 2009 Clean Emissions Act, and narrowed the definition of federally protected waters. What remains of the EPA is barely recognizable.
Ignoring Science Comes at a High Cost
We’ve all been stuck behind a bus or diesel truck spewing fumes—it’s awful. We were on the right path, but not anymore.
The Future We Are Leaving Behind
Worst of all is the disregard for science. Research programs have been slashed, staff reduced, and expertise pushed out. As a result, we are leaving less for our children and future generations. And somehow, he thinks this is good policy.
A Call to Respond
Let me know what you think—and how we can fight this. There are many ways to live in harmony with the environment, but pollution isn’t one of them. We contaminate nearly everything, which is exactly why the EPA was created: to protect us when others won’t.
