Trump Administration Intensifies Modifications on Environmental Websites
As the new term of the Trump administration unfolds, significant changes are being made to government environmental websites. The pace and scope of these modifications have surpassed those made during the first Trump administration, according to a report from the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI).
The EDGI, a nonprofit organization formed in response to President Trump’s initial term, aims to track and preserve government environmental data. Their latest findings reveal that in the first 100 days of the current administration, there were 632 notable changes to websites, compared to 371 during the same period in the first term. The group defines significant changes as those that substantially alter content, focus, or links on a page.
Despite a reduction in the number of monitored pages — from over 25,000 in 2017 to 4,429 this year — the increase in website changes persists. These findings were made possible through the dedicated efforts of EDGI volunteers who scrutinize federal web pages to ensure public access to preserved information. The group has made these resources publicly available.
Gretchen Gehrke, co-founder of EDGI, expressed surprise at the extent of deletions, particularly concerning environmental justice. Gehrke noted, “That level of total erasure we didn’t see with any topic under the first-term administration.”
The report highlights that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, along with environmental justice initiatives, have been major targets of the administration. On January 20, President Trump signed an executive order eliminating related programs and positions. This move contrasts with former President Biden’s focus on environmental justice as a central goal of his administration.
In an email to NPR, Taylor Rogers, White House assistant press secretary, stated, “Under President Trump’s leadership, agencies are refocusing on their core missions and shifting away from ideological activism.”
According to the EDGI report, efforts to remove information began the day after Trump assumed office. This included the removal of the Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool and similar resources from other agencies, which were key to fulfilling a Biden administration goal of directing 40% of climate program benefits to disadvantaged communities.
While climate change information on federal websites has also been affected, the changes have been less widespread compared to environmental justice and DEI content. The federal climate change research website globalchange.gov was shut down, whereas the EPA’s primary climate change website remains operational, providing scientific information and guidance on individual actions against climate change.
Furthermore, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) site, climate.gov, halted new content publication this summer after the staff was terminated. The site was a vital source of information on weather patterns, droughts, and greenhouse gases, attracting nearly one million visitors monthly, as noted in NOAA’s release.
Gehrke emphasized the lack of oversight on how administrations manage government websites, stating, “We really need to protect our information better. Websites are the primary means by which the government communicates with the public.” They further stressed the importance of accurate information for democratic participation.
