Trump is Hurting Our Communities by Recklessly Dismantling the Office of Environmental Justice

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2025

Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230

Chispa/En Español: Elena Gaona, egaona@lcv.org, 202-907-9717

 

LCV and Chispa Statements on Trump Administration Dismantling the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice

 Washington, D.C. — In response to the new Trump administration’s anticipated action to dismantle the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa released the following statements:

“President Trump and Elon Musk are continuing to flout the law and recklessly dismantle the long-standing institutions meant to protect the health and safety of all communities,” said LCV Healthy Communities Program Director Madeleine Foote. “At its core, environmental justice is about the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people — no matter their race, income, zip code, or national origin. Today’s actions dismantling the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice is being done to benefit Big Polluters and corporate interests, and will cost lives. Environmental justice communities include everyone living next to polluting factories, congested roadways, toxic waste dumps, and other Big Polluters — low-income communities, communities of color, rural communities, elderly communities, people who have disabilities and increased health risks, and so many more.”

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“The EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice was designed to address pollution disproportionately affecting low-income and communities of color, and the job is not done,” said Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González. “Doing away with the office, whose work has operated for decades, sets us back and further increases the need to address environmental injustices. It will put our communities, already dealing with a history of the worse effects of climate change, dirty air, contaminated water, and other toxins, at a greater health risk from polluters. This is a moment where Chispa’s community organizing efforts on the ground matter more than ever because clean air, clean water, and safe and healthy communities for all are worth fighting for. We are not going anywhere. Our communities are not going anywhere. We know how to work and fight for change under difficult circumstances.”

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