Trump’s Second Term: Unprecedented Deletion of Crucial Environmental Data

Recent changes to U.S. government environmental websites have raised eyebrows. A report by the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI) highlights that the current administration has made 70% more changes in its first 100 days compared to the past. This indicates a shift in how environmental information is shared and accessed.

In the first 100 days of the first Trump administration, there were 371 notable changes to these websites. This year, that number soared to 632. EDGI defines an “important change” as anything that significantly alters the content or focus of a web page.

Interestingly, this spike happened despite having fewer volunteers to monitor the sites—4,429 this year versus over 25,000 in 2017. Still, the group managed to document and preserve this crucial data for public access.

Gretchen Gehrke, co-founder of EDGI, expressed concern: “I am surprised by the extent of the removal of information about environmental justice,” she stated. “That level of total erasure we didn’t see with any topic under the first-term administration.”

One striking feature of these changes includes the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as environmental justice tools. These tools were essential for identifying disadvantaged communities, especially those targeted by climate programs. It’s worth noting that former President Biden had made environmental justice a centerpiece of his administration.

On January 20, shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order dismantling various programs related to these initiatives.

While some climate change information has been altered or removed, the situation is inconsistent. For instance, the federal climate research site, globalchange.gov, was shut down, but the EPA’s climate page still provides resources and scientific data.

Another concerning development is the halting of updates on the popular NOAA site, climate.gov, which had garnered nearly one million visitors every month. This stop in content updating can limit public access to vital climate data, especially as public interest in climate issues grows.

Gehrke emphasizes the need for better oversight when it comes to managing government websites. “We really need to protect our information better,” she says. “Websites are the primary means by which the government communicates with the public.” Reliable information is critical for engaging the public in democracy.

As these changes unfold, many are questioning what it means for transparency and access to environmental data. Keeping track of these modifications is essential for informed public dialogue about our environment.

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