©2025 League of Conservation Voters
Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BlueSky, and TikTok.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead. We see the consequences all across America.”
— President Biden on threats to democracy during his farewell address to the nation.
“The EPA is supposed to be the environmental watch dog, and not a fossil fuel lapdog.”
— Senator Ed Markey to EPA administrator nominee Lee Zeldin during Zeldin’s Senate confirmation hearing.
“We are building faster, better, and more efficiently while engaging early with communities, proving that you do not have to choose between quicker permitting and protecting people from pollution and environmental harms.”
— Brenda Mallory, chair of the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ), on the finding that CEQ has been able to help accelerate the timeline government-wide for completing environmental impact statements, shaving off 8 months or a quarter of the time to completion and resulting in more and cleaner projects making it through the permitting process.
PRESIDENT BIDEN DESIGNATES NATIONAL MONUMENTS IN CALIFORNIA: President Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland officially designated the Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments. President Biden has now protected 674 million acres of U.S. lands and waters, more than any other president.
OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski said, “LCV is forever grateful for President Biden and Secretary Haaland’s steadfast leadership and commitment to protecting our communities, climate, and sacred and treasured places. We are thrilled to celebrate today’s designations of the Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments, and proud to support the Tribal and local leaders who advocated tirelessly to make them happen. These monuments protect and honor living landscapes that are rich in cultural, recreational, and ecological resources that continue to sustain the well-being and survival of Indigenous peoples today. Sáttítla Highlands National Monument offers protections for a unique volcanic landscape which is home to critical water resources for millions of people, as well as agriculture and fish populations, and Chuckwalla National Monument provides a poignant example of how clean energy and conservation practices can coexist to simultaneously tackle the climate crisis and build climate resilience.
LCV also thanks Senator Padilla, and Representative Ruiz for listening to local voices and advocating for these designations, and for their continued dedication to addressing the climate crisis in California and across the country.”
CEV TAKE: California Environmental Voters Executive Director Mike Young said, “We applaud President Biden for listening to local communities and designating Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments. In doing so, he will have a lasting environmental legacy of protecting more acres of public lands than any president except for the late President Jimmy Carter. We urge all leaders to follow suit in defending our nation’s public lands. These monuments are lifelines for ecosystems, communities, and our fight against the climate crisis – we must continue to stand up to preserve these critical resources before it’s too late.”
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ON DATA CENTERS: The Biden-Harris administration issued an executive order requiring data centers to undergo an environmental review process and seek to minimize their impacts on the environment, the electrical grid, and nearby communities. Data centers are driving huge increases in energy demand and raising energy prices across the country.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis said, “Data centers have already driven up energy costs for families and increased climate and air pollution that harms communities across the country. The Biden-Harris administration executive order directs development in the right direction – towards the fastest, cheapest and cleanest energy – that from clean renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal. As underscored in the order released today, these data centers must also undergo the same environmental review as other projects, and should seek to minimize impacts to the surrounding environment and communities and safeguard the environmental progress of the Biden-Harris administration.”
LCV RELEASES MEMO ON TRUMP’S DAY ONE AGENDA: LCV released a memo ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration outlining how the president-elect’s Day One agenda, which includes releasing an intentionally overwhelming onslaught of executive orders, and his pro-polluter agenda will hurt our families and environment. Read the full memo for more.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo said, “Put simply, Trump’s approach to energy adds up to increased prices for families and increased profits for oil and gas executives while fanning the flames of climate fueled disasters. He campaigned on expanding oil and gas drilling and other items on Big Polluters’ wish list, but what he left out of his campaign speeches was the true costs that families would have to bear. We expect his Day One actions to quickly pivot away from the voters he made promises to during the campaign and instead reveal who he really cares about— not hard working families looking for lower costs and safer, healthier communities–but the billionaire oil and gas executives he surrounds himself with, and who are the only ones who stand to get richer at consumers’ and the environment’s expense.”
PRESIDENT BIDEN DELIVERS FAREWELL ADDRESS: On Wednesday evening, President Biden delivered his final address where he discussed the impressive job growth, innovation, and historic action on the climate crisis overseen by his administration. He also issued a warning that an oligarchy of “extreme wealth, power and influence” is taking shape in this country and the dangers of misinformation and disinformation that are enabling abuse of power. Read the New York Times transcript of the address.
ICYMI: LCV MEMO ON CABINET CONFIRMATION HEARINGS: Last Friday, LCV released a memo with details about several of Trump’s future nominees for Cabinet positions, including Lee Zeldin for EPA administrator, Chris Wright for energy secretary, and Doug Burgum for secretary of the interior. Read the full memo for more on Trump’s slate of billionaire loyalist nominees and polluter cronies, and questions we think the nominees need to answer.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis said, “Unfortunately, President Trump has nominated the most anti-environment, anti-democracy billionaire-filled cabinet in history. This slate of nominees appears to have been chosen not for their job qualifications, but rather for their willingness to do the bidding of their billionaire cronies to pad their pockets and their fealty to President Trump’s promise to threaten his political opponents.”
SENATE HOLDS CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR TRUMP CABINET PICKS: This week, the Senate held confirmation hearings for 13 of Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, Chris Wright for energy secretary, Sean Duffy for transportation secretary, Russell Vought for OMB director, Pam Bondi for attorney general, Lee Zeldin for EPA administrator, and Doug Burgum for secretary of the interior.
OUR TAKE ON TUESDAY’S HEARINGS: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “Nothing that was said by any of these nominees in hearings today changes the fact that they are not fit to serve in these roles. They have made it clear that they will follow President-elect Trump in putting polluters over people, leaving our families, communities and environment at risk. We oppose their nominations and urge Senators to reject them.”
DEFENSE SECRETARY NOMINEE: PETE HEGSETH: LCV Senior Director of Judiciary & Democracy Doug Lindner said, “The secretary of defense must serve the people and the constitution, not the president’s extreme and lawless political agenda. Pete Hegseth’s threats to politicize the military by purging officers, his refusal to reject unconstitutional orders, his defense of war crimes, his many allegations of personal and professional misconduct, and his well-documented extremism would be disqualifying if not for his overwhelming lack of qualifications. His record demonstrates his disregard for the rights of servicemembers and the freedoms of all people, especially women, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color.
Our rights to breathe clean air and drink clean water need a stable democracy led by honorable public servants. Hegseth has made it clear that his appointment as Secretary of Defense would jeopardize the people’s freedom of assembly and the rule of law, as he dodged repeated questions in today’s hearing about respect for the Constitution and our fundamental freedoms. We applaud the Senators who asked tough questions today and urge the Senate to reject his nomination.”
ENERGY SECRETARY NOMINEE CHRIS WRIGHT: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “As a wealthy Big Oil executive who would be charged with overseeing huge parts of our energy economy, Chris Wright’s responses today were deeply troubling. He would not distance himself from his previous statements calling wildfire concerns ‘just hype,’ even as nearly a hundred thousand Angelenos are still evacuated and tens of thousands of homes have burned to the ground. While he confirmed he was at the well-reported dinner oil and gas executives had with former President Trump in April 2024, he denied that Trump suggested they spend $1 billion on his campaign in order to roll back environmental protections.
Let’s be clear. A vote for Chris Wright is a vote for the polluting oil and gas industry and senators should reject his nomination for secretary of the Department Energy. We need a leader who can advance the cheapest, fastest, cleanest energy that can deliver a win-win-win for communities and the climate – not a Big Oil executive.”
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY NOMINEE SEAN DUFFY: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “Don’t be fooled. Though we didn’t see Duffy say anything about his climate denial or his opposition to clean, efficient cars and trucks, Duffy, who has a lifetime score of 2% on the National Environmental Scorecard, will pursue allegiance to Trump over clean energy solutions that protect the health and safety of our communities and our environment. We need a secretary of transportation who would prioritize clean vehicles and transit to make transportation more affordable, while tackling the climate crisis and keeping the air safe and healthy to breathe. Duffy’s history of denying the scientific consensus of climate change, criticizing clean car standards, and his loyalty to Trump, puts our health, our environment and climate progress at risk. We urge senators to reject the nomination of Sean Duffy for secretary of the Department of Transportation.”
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR NOMINEE RUSSELL VOUGHT: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “Russell Vought’s testimony today confirms his goals are to fulfill his promise to traumatize hard-working civil servants and carry out the extreme and unpopular Project 2025 agenda he co-wrote: taking power away from Congress and preventing the government from doing their job to protect communities. He doubled down on illegally directing agencies to withhold or delay funds directed by acts of Congress, as he did previously, including for critical disaster relief to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
Today’s hearing made it clear Vought intends to pick up right where he left off, which will cause lasting harm to the health and safety of communities, our air and water, and our freedoms, while increasing costs for people across the country. The Senate must reject this dangerous nomination to protect our communities and the critical agencies that serve people across the country.”
ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE PAM BONDI: LCV Senior Director of Judiciary & Democracy Doug Lindner said, “Pam Bondi’s hearing demonstrated once again her loyalty is to Donald Trump, corporate interests, and far-right extremists, not the Constitution and the people. During this hearing, Bondi repeatedly refused to disavow Trump’s many threats to weaponize law enforcement against political opponents and investigators, as well as FBI Director nominee Kash Patel’s ‘enemies list’– a disqualifying sign that our freedoms are not safe in her hands.
Bondi’s confirmation hearing as well as her clear anti-climate, anti-democracy record both as Florida attorney general and in private practice shows she lacks the integrity, impartiality, and honesty necessary to serve as the nation’s top law enforcement officer, with responsibility for equal justice under law and for enforcement of critical protections for our environment and democracy. Because she would help Donald Trump undermine the rule of law and weaponize the Justice Department, and because she cannot be trusted to enforce environmental and voting rights laws, the Senate must reject this nomination and insist on an attorney general who works for the people, not just the president and his Big Polluter friends.”
EPA ADMINISTRATOR NOMINEE LEE ZELDIN: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “The confirmation hearing for Lee Zeldin, who holds an abysmal 14% lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard and has no significant environmental experience, to lead the nation’s foremost agency tasked with protecting the environment raises troubling questions about what he will prioritize. Will it be protecting frontline communities who are impacted by air and water pollution and the fossil-fueled climate crisis firsthand, or will it be weakening health and safety regulations as favors for Trump’s ultra wealthy friends? Not only did Zeldin vote against the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest investment in clean energy and climate action ever — and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which directed billions of dollars to the EPA to remove all lead drinking water pipes, he also voted to block carbon pollution limits for power plants and against appropriations to extend the national flood insurance program. Today’s hearing solidifies what we knew all along; Zeldin will not prioritize the health and safety of our communities or environment and will lead EPA into the ground.”
INTERIOR SECRETARY NOMINEE DOUG BURGUM: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “Billionaire Doug Burgum’s testimony today shows the extent of his loyalty to Trump’s fossil fuel agenda and proves that he should not be trusted in the role of Interior secretary. Burgum must understand that as the secretary of the interior, he will be tasked with stewarding all of our public lands and waters, not just national parks, and that they are to be treasured, not exploited to line the pockets of his oil and gas cronies. Moreover, his prioritization of an energy policy that promotes risky drilling and oxymoronic ‘clean coal’ would be far costlier for consumers than cheaper, faster, cleaner energy solutions like wind, solar, and geothermal. Today’s hearing confirms that Burgum is committed to more drilling and pipelines, no matter the cost to local communities, consumers, and the environment. We oppose his nomination and urge senators to reject him.”
CLIMATE POWER RELEASES UPDATED JOBS REPORT: A new report from Climate Power shows that investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have resulted in 751 new clean energy projects, created over 400,000 new jobs, and driven $422 billion in new clean energy investment since 2022. Check out the full report for more!
THE IMPORTANCE OF STATE-LEVEL CLIMATE ACTION: As we transition to a new administration this weekend, states will be more important than ever in continuing to advance clean energy and climate action across the country. To learn more about the role Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will play, check out this article from Bloomberg Law.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of State Policy and Advocacy Bill Holland said he believes Whitmer will continue to deliver clean energy to Michiganders “whether that’s continuing to implement the really ambitious laws that Michigan has passed and that she’s led on, or to make sure the administration doesn’t roll back core environmental protections.”
GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY DELIVERS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS: New Jersey governor Phil Murphy delivered New Jersey’s State of the State address on Tuesday in which he outlined his plan for the state’s clean energy future and pledged to push for passage of legislation to transition the state to 100% clean energy by 2035.
NEW JERSEY LCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Executive Director Ed Potosnak said, “We’re proud of Governor Murphy for charting a clean energy future in his State of the State address that will clean our air and lower costs for working families and local businesses. We know that clean energy costs less than dirty oil and gas, and Governor Murphy’s plan to enshrine these goals in law will allow children with asthma and seniors with heart disease to breathe easier — even as we create thousands of union jobs here in New Jersey.
At a time when Donald Trump is planning massive giveaways to the billionaire CEOs of oil and gas companies, New Jersey must be at the forefront of delivering cleaner and cheaper energy to position our state as a leader in the renewable energy revolution.
Legislation that puts New Jersey on the path to 100% clean energy by 2035 would cement Governor Murphy’s legacy as the nation’s greenest governor, and we look forward to working with him and with environmental champions in the Legislature to deliver real results for working families who deserve to breathe cleaner air, save money on their energy bills, and address the worst impacts of climate change.”
MARYLAND LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE ABUNDENT, AFFORDABLE, CLEAN ENERGY ACT (AACE): The Abundant, Affordable Clean Energy (AACE) Act was introduced to the Maryland legislature on Monday. The bill would allow Maryland to meet energy demand by producing clean energy in-state while at the same time lowering energy costs for residents.
CHISPA NV AND PARTNERS EMPOWER COMMUNITY VOICES AT NEVADA LEGISLATIVE TOWN HALL: Chispa Nevada partnered with the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition for a town hall where community members learned how they can take action and advocate for environmental justice during this year’s legislative session in Nevada.
CHISPA AZ JOINS PRESS CONFERENCE TO OUTLINE ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION: Chispa Arizona joined a press conference alongside partners Sierra Club AZ, AZ Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander community for Equity, AZ Youth Climate, Vote Solar, and AZ Interfaith Power & Light to share environmental priorities for the legislative session. Key focuses included addressing the climate crisis, environmental injustice, water protection, land and wildlife restoration, and ensuring access to democracy.
ON THE BLOG: Learn more about this week’s national monument designations in California, as well as President Biden’s conservation legacy and what’s at stake for our public lands in the new administration, in a new piece on The Power Source Blog!
ON OUR SOCIALS: As devastating fires continue to rage across California, we’re combatting disinformation, including troubling comments from Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright. And, Senate climate and democracy champions ate and left no crumbs during confirmation hearings for Lee Zeldin, Pam Bondi, Doug Burgum, Chris Wright and others this week, and we’re doing our part by reminding audiences just how bad these nominees are.
JANUARY 18: People’s March in D.C.
JANUARY 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
JANUARY 20: Inauguration Day.
JANUARY 21: 15th Anniversary of the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court case.
JANUARY 25: Rise for Democracy Teach In: 10am-8pm at All Souls Unitarian Church in Colombia Heights. Register to attend here!
©2025 League of Conservation Voters