Environmental Nonprofits Gear Up to Challenge Trump’s Executive Orders

Environmental nonprofits and lawyers are preparing for a series of legal battles in response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions, which they argue threaten critical environmental protections, conservation efforts, and the transition to a decarbonized economy. Since taking office for his second term, Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at reversing policies enacted by his predecessor, Joe Biden, particularly those related to offshore drilling, deregulation, and federal land use. Nonprofits and environmental law firms have signaled their intent to challenge these actions in court, arguing that many of Trump’s moves violate existing environmental laws and undermine decades of progress in conservation and climate action.

One of the most contentious actions is Trump’s attempt to revoke Biden’s ban on offshore oil and natural gas drilling along the U.S. East and West coasts, the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s North Bering Sea. Environmental lawyers argue that Biden’s ban, issued under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, is legally permanent and cannot be overturned by a future president. "We’ll see them in court at some point," said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "I think we will prevail on this." Trump’s move is seen as an effort to fulfill his campaign promise to expand fossil fuel production, but it faces significant legal and public opposition.

How Environmental Groups Are Responding to Trump’s Executive Orders

Environmental groups are not only challenging Trump’s offshore drilling reversal but also criticizing his broader regulatory agenda. Among the most concerning policies is a 10-to-1 deregulatory freeze, which requires the federal government to repeal 10 existing rules or regulations before adopting a new one. Critics call this approach "completely arbitrary" and ineffective, noting that a similar two-for-one deregulatory freeze during Trump’s first term failed to achieve meaningful change. "A lot of what we’ve seen, even in the first two weeks, have been almost just copy-and-paste activities from executive orders that we saw in the first Trump administration," Hartl said.

These groups argue that Trump’s actions ignore the wishes of coastal communities that strongly oppose increased drilling. "People in Florida don’t want drilling. People in California don’t want drilling," said Joanne Spalding, director of the environmental law program at the Sierra Club. "There’s lots of places where people are not interested in having that activity on their coastlines." Environmental advocates are also raising alarms about Trump’s suspension of funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was designed to support clean energy development, public health, and communities disproportionately harmed by fossil fuels. "We are looking at and developing lawsuits aimed at ensuring that the money flows to the intended recipients," said Sam Sankar, senior vice president at Earthjustice.

Conservation Nonprofits’ Biggest Concerns

Environmental nonprofits are particularly alarmed by the potential dismantling of federal agencies critical to conservation and environmental protection. Trump’s administration has signaled plans to defund or disrupt agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Park Service, which play essential roles in maintaining clean air and water, managing national parks, and protecting endangered species. "If you don’t have people working at the EPA, it’s pretty hard to keep the air clean, the water clean," Hartl said. "If you don’t have folks working at the National Park Service, how are you going to run your national parks? How are you going to protect endangered wildlife?"

Adding to these concerns is the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which has offered buyouts to millions of federal employees. This move could decimate the workforce of agencies responsible for environmental protection, leaving them unable to fulfill their missions. Environmental advocates are also worried about the potential defunding of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which were cornerstone pieces of legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions and transitioning the U.S. to a net-zero economy by 2050. Spalding described these laws as "the most important pieces of legislation ever in addressing global climate change."

Lessons Learned from the First Trump Administration

Environmental groups are drawing on lessons learned during Trump’s first term to guide their responses this time around. Many of Trump’s executive orders during his first administration were symbolic or declaratory, lacking concrete action. This created confusion and speculation about their actual impact, making it challenging for nonprofits to decide which actions to challenge in court. However, environmental lawyers now have more experience and are being more strategic in their approach. "We’re always very choosy about our litigation to make sure that we have the best claims with the clients who are most clearly affected," Sankar said.

This time, nonprofits are focusing on the most critical issues and preparing for a long-term fight. "We’ll continue to focus on those priorities and make sure that we’re engaged every step of the way during the regulatory rollback process," Spalding said. While Trump’s actions pose significant threats to environmental progress, the resilience and determination of these groups suggest that the legal battles ahead will be fiercely contested. The outcome of these lawsuits will shape the future of environmental policy in the U.S. and beyond.

Lawsuits and Resistance: The Path Forward

Environmental nonprofits are wasting no time in preparing lawsuits to block Trump’s executive orders and protect critical environmental protections. In addition to challenging the legality of Trump’s offshore drilling reversal, groups are also targeting the deregulatory freeze and the suspension of IRA funding. Several lawsuits are already in development, including challenges to the authority of DOGE and its impact on federal agencies. These legal efforts are complemented by advocacy campaigns, public outreach, and grassroots organizing to raise awareness about the stakes of these policy changes.

The battle ahead will require both legal expertise and public support. As Hartl noted, "The biggest threat to the environment is Trump’s across-the-board attempt to simply dismantle the federal government." Environmental groups are determined to counter this threat by leveraging the courts, mobilizing communities, and advocating for policies that align with the urgent need for climate action and conservation. While the road ahead is fraught with challenges, the resilience and determination of these nonprofits offer hope that progress can be preserved and advanced, even in the face of significant opposition.