Protecting American Energy From State Overreach
This executive order directs the Attorney General to identify and challenge state and local laws deemed to unduly burden domestic energy production.
It cites concerns over national and economic security, federalism, and interstate commerce, arguing that these state-level policies inflate energy costs and contradict the administration's goal of energy dominance.
The order prioritizes addressing policies related to ‘climate change’ or ‘environmental, social, and governance’ initiatives.
The Attorney General is tasked with taking legal action and reporting back to the President within 60 days.
Arguments For
National Security: The order argues that state-level restrictions on energy production threaten national security by limiting access to affordable and reliable energy resources.
Economic Security: The order claims that state policies increase energy costs for families nationwide, hurting economic prosperity and quality of life.
Federalism: The order asserts that certain state policies undermine federalism by imposing restrictions beyond their constitutional authority and dictating national energy policy.
Interstate Commerce: The order suggests that some state-level actions create unfair barriers to interstate and international trade, harming energy producers and violating principles of interstate commerce.
Preemption of State Law: The order proposes to use federal power to preempt state laws deemed illegal, unconstitutional, or contradictory to federal energy policy.
Arguments Against
State Sovereignty: Opponents might argue the order infringes on state sovereignty and the ability of states to regulate within their jurisdictions, potentially leading to legal challenges.
Environmental Concerns: Critics could contend the order prioritizes energy production over environmental protection, potentially exacerbating climate change and harming public health.
Economic Disparities: The order's focus on federal intervention could disproportionately affect certain regions or industries, potentially leading to economic disruption and job losses in areas dependent on state-level green initiatives.
Lack of Transparency: The broad language of the order may not provide precise regulatory measures, potentially creating uncertainty and hindering efficient energy markets.
Unintended Consequences: The order's far-reaching scope could lead to unintended consequences, especially impacting intergovernmental relations and stimulating further litigation.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. My Administration is committed to unleashing American energy, especially through the removal of all illegitimate impediments to the identification, development, siting, production, investment in, or use of domestic energy resources — particularly oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, geothermal, biofuel, critical mineral, and nuclear energy resources. An affordable and reliable domestic energy supply is essential to the national and economic security of the United States, as well as our foreign policy. Simply put, Americans are better off when the United States is energy dominant. American energy dominance is threatened when State and local governments seek to regulate energy beyond their constitutional or statutory authorities. For example, when States target or discriminate against out-of-State energy producers by imposing significant barriers to interstate and international trade, American energy suffers, and the equality of each State enshrined by the Constitution is undermined. Similarly, when States subject energy producers to arbitrary or excessive fines through retroactive penalties or seek to control energy development, siting, or production activities on Federal land, American energy suffers.
Many States have enacted, or are in the process of enacting, burdensome and ideologically motivated “climate change” or energy policies that threaten American energy dominance and our economic and national security. New York, for example, enacted a “climate change” extortion law that seeks to retroactively impose billions in fines (erroneously labelled “compensatory payments”) on traditional energy producers for their purported past contributions to greenhouse gas emissions not only in New York but also anywhere in the United States and the world. Vermont similarly extorts energy producers for alleged past contributions to greenhouse gas emissions anywhere in the United States or the globe. Other States have taken different approaches in an effort to dictate national energy policy. California, for example, punishes carbon use by adopting impossible caps on the amount of carbon businesses may use, all but forcing businesses to pay large sums to “trade” carbon credits to meet California’s radical requirements. Some States delay review of permit applications to produce energy, creating de facto barriers to entry in the energy market. States have also sued energy companies for supposed “climate change” harm under nuisance or other tort regimes that could result in crippling damages. These State laws and policies weaken our national security and devastate Americans by driving up energy costs for families coast-to-coast, despite some of these families not living or voting in States with these crippling policies. These laws and policies also undermine Federalism by projecting the regulatory preferences of a few States into all States. Americans must be permitted to heat their homes, fuel their cars, and have peace of mind — free from policies that make energy more expensive and inevitably degrade quality of life. These State laws and policies try to dictate interstate and international disputes over air, water, and natural resources; unduly discriminate against out-of-State businesses; contravene the equality of States; and retroactively impose arbitrary and excessive fines without legitimate justification. These State laws and policies are fundamentally irreconcilable with my Administration’s objective to unleash American energy. They should not stand.
This section establishes the order's purpose: to address state and local laws that hinder domestic energy production.
The administration argues that these laws threaten national and economic security, increase energy costs, and undermine federalism.
Specific examples are cited, highlighting alleged overreach by New York, Vermont, and California.
The administration frames the order as necessary to protect U.S. energy dominance and citizens' interests.
The section concludes by asserting that these state policies will not be tolerated.
Sec. 2. State Laws and Causes of Action. (a) The Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of appropriate executive departments and agencies, shall identify all State and local laws, regulations, causes of action, policies, and practices (collectively, State laws) burdening the identification, development, siting, production, or use of domestic energy resources that are or may be unconstitutional, preempted by Federal law, or otherwise unenforceable. The Attorney General shall prioritize the identification of any such State laws purporting to address “climate change” or involving “environmental, social, and governance” initiatives, “environmental justice,” carbon or “greenhouse gas” emissions, and funds to collect carbon penalties or carbon taxes.
(b) The Attorney General shall expeditiously take all appropriate action to stop the enforcement of State laws and continuation of civil actions identified in subsection (a) of this section that the Attorney General determines to be illegal. (c) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the President, through the Counsel to the President, regarding actions taken under subsection (b) of this section. The Attorney General shall also recommend any additional Presidential or legislative action necessary to stop the enforcement of State laws identified in subsection (a) of this section that the Attorney General determines to be illegal or otherwise fulfill the purpose of this order.
This section outlines the actions the Attorney General must take.
The Attorney General will identify state and local laws hindering domestic energy production.
These include laws related to climate change and ESG initiatives.
The Attorney General will then take action to stop enforcement against identified laws deemed illegal.
A report detailing actions taken must be submitted to the President within 60 days, including recommendations for future presidential and legislative action.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE, April 8, 2025.
This section contains standard legal clauses.
Subsection (a) clarifies that the order does not change existing authority of executive departments or the Office of Management and Budget.
Subsection (b) states implementation must comply with existing law and funding.
Subsection (c) is a standard disclaimer that the order creates no legal rights or benefits enforceable by individuals or entities against the federal government.