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“Already we have started our organizing for the future. We don’t agonize over what happened. We organize about what comes next.”
— Nancy Pelosi on moving forward after the 2024 election.
“There is no national security, there is no economic security, there is no global security without climate security.”
— Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister speaking at the COP29 conference.
“We will not let this administration poison the water and air and soil of millions of Americans, and we will not let them stop our progress when it comes to combating climate change and securing a safe future for the next generation.”
— Nicole Cantello, president of AFGE Local 704, a union representing Midwestern EPA employees, on the nomination of Lee Zeldin to lead the agency.
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION RACES TO SOLIDIFY CLIMATE AGENDA BEFORE TRUMP TAKES OFFICE: The Biden-Harris administration’s 2022 climate law is projected to provide more than $390 billion over 10 years for clean energy projects like wind, solar, and EV battery production. Over the next month and a half, the administration is laser-focused on getting this money out the door, finalizing environmental regulations, and reinforcing clean energy projects tied to the IRA.
WHITE HOUSE TAKE: John Podesta, White House chief of staff and President Biden’s senior adviser on clean energy, said “There’s no question that having someone leading the federal government who thinks climate change is a hoax is an impediment to accelerating action. This is not the end of our fight for a cleaner, safer planet. The fight is bigger than one election or political cycle.”
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION TOUTS UNPRECEDENTED PROGRESS AGAINST PFAS POLLUTION: The Biden-Harris administration has worked with states, Tribes, and federal partners to deliver on their commitment to cutting PFAS pollution. The administration has taken historic steps to protect drinking water, clean up historic PFAS contamination, invest in research and monitoring, and pursue enforcement and compliance actions to hold polluters accountable for the damage they have caused to our health and environment. Read more in EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap third annual progress report.
TRUMP PICKS LEE ZELDIN TO HEAD EPA: President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate former Representative Lee Zeldin to be his administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator. During Zeldin’s time in Congress, he repeatedly voted against clean air and water, supported legislation to slash funding for the agency, and holds an abysmal 14% lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “Trump made his anti-climate action, anti-environment agenda very clear during his first term and again during his 2024 campaign. During the confirmation process, we would challenge Lee Zeldin to show how he would be better than Trump’s campaign promises or his own failing 14% environmental score if he wants to be charged with protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink, and finding solutions to climate change. The stakes for our climate and future generations could not be higher, and we’re all in to fight for our communities and defend the climate, clean energy, and environmental justice progress we have made.”
TRUMP TAPS REPRESENTATIVE MATT GAETZ FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL: President-elect Donald Trump has said he intends to nominate Representative Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general. It has been extensively reported that Gaetz has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for illicit drug use, improper gifts, obstruction, and sexual misconduct – allegations he vehemently denies. He was previously investigated by the Justice Department – the department he is nominated to lead – for sex trafficking allegations, though that investigation was closed without charges filed. He is a member of the extreme and divisive House Freedom Caucus, voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and holds a 10% lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Director of Judiciary & Democracy Doug Lindner said, “Donald Trump has once again demonstrated profound contempt for the Constitution, the rule of law, civil rights, clean air and water, and the integrity of our institutions with his choice of Matt Gaetz — whose 10% lifetime environmental score speaks for itself — for Attorney General. Trump has a history of attempting to violently overthrow the government and he has repeatedly promised to abuse his power by ordering the Justice Department and military to persecute his political opponents. We cannot have a hyperpartisan, unqualified Attorney General overseeing environmental and other critical protections, as well as the FBI and all federal prosecutors, when Gaetz’s only true experience with law enforcement is being investigated himself.”
TRUMP CHOOSES BILLIONAIRE DOUG BURGUM FOR INTERIOR SECRETARY: President-elect Donald Trump has stated that he will nominate billionaire Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota to be his administration’s secretary of the Department of the Interior. Known for his close ties to the oil and gas industry, Burgum has been a vocal supporter of fossil fuels and opposition to Biden’s climate policies.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Federal Advocacy Campaigns Director Leah Donahey said, “Billionaire Doug Burgum already demonstrated the lengths he’ll go when he helped organize the infamous dinner where Trump offered Big Oil executives their wishlist in exchange for $1 billion. The Secretary of Interior is charged with protecting the country’s most iconic, unspoiled, and treasured public lands while working with local and Indigenous communities. Instead of comparing Burgum to other Trump nominees, the question should be how much is Burgum willing to hand over to oil CEOs and other Big Polluters — all so they can pad their already record profits. If Burgum cares about our public lands, he will disavow the MAGA Project 2025 agenda and Trump’s extreme campaign to eliminate protections in order to ‘drill, drill, drill’.”
TRUMP SELECTS RFK JR. TO LEAD HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: President-elect Donald Trump has decided he will nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his administration’s Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Once an environmental lawyer, RFK Jr.’s focus has shifted to anti-science rhetoric, spouting myriad conspiracy theories, and promoting deregulation.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA Health Scientist Matthew Davis said, “RFK Jr. is a dangerous conspiracy theorist and science denier whose stated policies would be a disaster for the health and reproductive rights of our communities, our planet, and our future generations. We’ve seen Kennedy time and time again spread misinformation about science, vaccines, and climate change in ways that are harmful for the health and safety of families in the U.S. and across the globe. With this nomination, Trump is again demonstrating that he will prioritize his MAGA allies instead of protecting public health and our environment.”
MORE VICTORIES FOR LCV ACTION FUND CANDIDATES: As results from elections across the country continue to trickle in, pro-climate, pro-democracy candidates have emerged victorious in races in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, and Oregon.
MARYLAND PREPARES TO ADVANCE CLIMATE ACTION AHEAD OF INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: With a pro-environment governor and legislature, Maryland is poised to lead on climate action, even as anti-environment lawmakers take control of U.S. Congress and Trump returns to the White House. As the responsibility for climate action shifts to the states, leaders can look to Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s proactive approach, including his executive order for state-level climate initiatives and preparation for state-led litigation to protect climate investments despite the uncertainty of potential federal funding cuts.
MDLCV TAKE: Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble said, “Maryland has the most aggressive short-term greenhouse gas reduction goals in the country. We have been a leader across the nation, and fortunately, our governor is committed to being a national leader on this. So Maryland has an important and significant role to play.”
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE PASSES CLIMATE OMNIBUS BILL: In a rare special session, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a landmark climate omnibus bill that reestablishes the state as a climate leader. The legislation includes major clean energy siting and permitting reforms, commitments to develop energy storage and clean energy, including offshore wind, historic reforms to phase out gas use in buildings, and cumulative impacts language developed by the state environmental justice table. Environmental League Massachusetts (ELM) played a key role securing the bill. After discussions broke down on the last day of session in July, ELM worked closely with House and Senate Utility and Energy Chairs, and led coalitions to ensure lawmakers continued to hear the urgency from multiple stakeholders.
ELM TAKE: Environmental League of Massachusetts Legislative Director David Melly said, “This legislation unlocks enormous potential to rapidly and responsibly build the modern, reliable electric grid we need to meet our climate goals. We cannot meet our emissions reduction targets with a slow, unresponsive, and inequitable energy siting system. The omnibus climate bill provides our state, communities, and developers with tools to deploy new renewable resources, shift buildings and transportation from fossil fuels to clean power, and plan for a net-zero future.”
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of State Policy and Advocacy Bill Holland said, “As President, Donald Trump at every turn made decisions to enrich his oil industry friends over the health and safety of everyday people. But his return to the White House has sparked a renewed resolve from state and local leaders to pick up the mantle of climate action. Massachusetts has set the bar high for the kind of climate action we must see from the state level. This is just the start.”
NEW YORK RE-LAUNCHES CONGESTION PRICING: Governor Kathy Hochul will revive a congestion pricing plan in New York City by early January 2025 with reduced tolls of $9 during peak hours, down from the previously proposed $15. The plan will help cut traffic, boost MTA funding, and improve air quality.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV President Julie Tighe said, “New Yorkers deserve less traffic, cleaner air, and robust investments in mass transit because we cannot drive our way out of the climate crisis. Thank you to Governor Hochul for championing this nation-leading congestion pricing program, a bold step that will reduce traffic congestion in Manhattan and improve air quality in communities across the New York metropolitan region. This pivotal initiative will generate essential funding to improve the MTA, making mass transit a more attractive, accessible choice for everyone. This is the right move for all New Yorkers—and a crucial investment in the future of our region.”
ON THE BLOG: Stay tuned for some exciting pieces, coming soon to The Power Source Blog!
ON OUR SOCIALS: Trump’s Conspiracy Cabinet is shaping up to be one of the most “brick-shittingly” terrifying, dangerous, and confusing cabinets we’ve ever seen. We compiled some of his picks’ LCV scores, and let’s just say the results are not promising. At least ExxonMobil is on our side???
NOVEMBER 28: Thanksgiving Day.
NOVEMBER 29: Native American Heritage Day.
DECEMBER 25: Christmas Day.
DECEMBER 25: Hanukkah begins.
DECEMBER 26: Kwanzaa begins.
JANUARY 3: 118th Congress ends and 119th Congress begins.
©2024 League of Conservation Voters