"Environmental groups say they’re feeling pressure to file more lawsuits against corporate polluters amid concerns the Trump administration is leaving a gap by not policing violators hard enough.
Those efforts will face challenges, though, as the groups run up against personnel and funding limits forcing them to be more judicious in choosing their battles.
“We can’t replicate the federal government’s responsibilities to do fair, reasonable, and effective environmental enforcement. We simply can’t,” said Howard Learner, executive director at the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC). “We have to pick our spots.”
The EPA hasn’t yet released its annual enforcement report, but some independent studies document a sharp drop-off in pursuing polluters as the Trump administration prioritizes fossil fuels to drive its economic agenda despite concerns of the environmental risks."
Stephen Lee reports for Bloomberg Environment February 10, 2026.
