The environment is crying for help after Trump's first 100 days

May 8, 2025

Opinion Story

by Tara Malhotra

"Tara Talks" Recurring Column

In the first 100 days of the second Donald Trump presidency, his administration has destroyed 30 years of environmental justice. After months of political chaos, it is easy to feel desensitized to headlines like these. But behind the numbers are real, irreversible consequences—poisoned air, rising seas, dying species, and communities left behind. We cannot afford to look away.

According to the Sierra Club, the environmental justice movement began in the late 1980s and fought against the degradation of ecosystems and extensive pollution that was impacting Americans. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the monumental Executive Order 12898, which was the first executive order to support environmental activism. This year, during his first week in office, Trump struck down this executive order because it clashed with his administration’s goal to prioritize corporate profit over people’s health and the planet’s future.

During these 100 days, which ended on Apr. 29, the Department of Justice reported that Trump dismantled laws and programs that support the environment as part of his greater plan to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion from our government. Other recent actions have included accelerating the use of fossil fuels, removing the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice, and cutting over $2.4 billion in grants that increase access to clean air and water for disadvantaged communities.

With every sentence I write in this column, I wish these facts were untrue. It is hard to believe that America’s elected president—arguably the most important member of our government and the face of our country—is so willing to ignore the devastating impact of his actions. But that is the point.

The sheer number of reckless decisions, along with the constant onslaught of shock and outrage, are designed to numb us into compliance. The Guardian found that the second Trump administration has already launched 145 initiatives (more than one a day) that harm the environment. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by this statistic, we must view each action as an opportunity to fight back.

By speaking up and holding our leaders accountable, we can demand policies that protect our communities and planet. The more we engage and raise awareness, the harder it is for these actions to slip by unnoticed. Our voices are the only thing that can drown out the noise of their reckless decisions.

Trump signs an executive order. Photo courtesy of Reuters.