Trump Orders EPA Chief To Terminate Biden-Era War On Appliances
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has been actively overturning the policies set by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
One of the major reversals involves what critics have referred to as the previous administration’s "war on appliances."
On Tuesday, Trump announced via his TruthSocial account that he had instructed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secretary Lee Zeldin to begin reviewing regulations affecting appliances such as sinks, dishwashers, showers, and washing machines.
“I am hereby instructing Secretary Lee Zeldin to immediately go back to my Environmental Orders, which were terminated by Crooked Joe Biden, on Water Standards and Flow pertaining to SINKS, SHOWERS, TOILETS, WASHING MACHINES, DISHWASHERS, etc., and to likewise go back to the common sense standards on LIGHTBULBS, that were put in place by the Trump Administration, but terminated by Crooked Joe. I look forward to signing these Orders. THANK YOU!!!” he declared.
This is not the first time Trump has targeted Biden’s ‘green energy’ policies.
On Inauguration Day, he issued an executive order aimed at “unleashing” the country’s “affordable and reliable energy and natural resources.”
“In recent years, burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations have impeded the development of these resources, limited the generation of reliable and affordable electricity, reduced job creation, and inflicted high energy costs upon our citizens,” the order stated. “These high energy costs devastate American consumers by driving up the cost of transportation, heating, utilities, farming, and manufacturing, while weakening our national security.”
Earlier this month, the Senate confirmed former energy industry CEO Chris Wright as Trump’s secretary of energy. Wright, who secured bipartisan support, will play a critical role in advancing Trump’s “Drill, baby, drill” energy strategy.
Since 2011, Wright has served as the CEO and founder of Liberty Energy Inc. His nomination successfully moved through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee before being confirmed in a final vote of 59 to 38.
Upon assuming office, Wright will collaborate closely with Trump to implement the administration’s energy initiatives. The 47th president has made energy a top priority in his first weeks back, declaring an “energy emergency” on his first day, putting an end to Biden’s moratorium on liquefied natural gas exports, and reversing climate regulations established by the previous administration.
Wright has expressed alignment with Trump’s vision, affirming during his confirmation hearing that his primary objective is to enhance domestic energy production and maximize American energy potential.
Trump cited the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (“NEA”) and section 301 of Title 3, United States Code, in justifying the energy emergency declaration.
“This active threat to the American people from high energy prices is exacerbated by our Nation’s diminished capacity to insulate itself from hostile foreign actors. Energy security is an increasingly crucial theater of global competition,” the order states.
“In an effort to harm the American people, hostile state and non-state foreign actors have targeted our domestic energy infrastructure, weaponized our reliance on foreign energy, and abused their ability to cause dramatic swings within international commodity markets. An affordable and reliable domestic supply of energy is a fundamental requirement for the national and economic security of any nation,” it continues.
The order further asserts:
The integrity and expansion of our Nation’s energy infrastructure—from coast to coast—is an immediate and pressing priority for the protection of the United States’ national and economic security. It is imperative that the Federal government puts the physical and economic well-being of the American people first.
Furthermore, the United States has untapped energy resources that could be utilized domestically and exported to international allies, ensuring a steady and cost-effective energy supply. Such efforts would generate jobs and economic opportunities for Americans, improve the country’s trade balance, strengthen U.S. competition against foreign adversaries, bolster relationships with allies, and promote global security. The order concludes that the nation’s current energy situation imposes unnecessary and dangerous constraints on foreign policy.