Soon as Trump takes on the Presidency, he orders a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency, barring staff from receiving any new contracts or grants, part of a broader communications clampdown within the executive branch. The order came on Tuesday as the agency delayed the implementation of at least 30 environmental rules finalized during President Barack Obama’s final term.
A summary of the actions delayed in the Federal Register includes a long list of regulations that include updated air pollution rulings for several states, renewable fuel standards and limits on the amount of formaldehyde that can leach from wood products. President Donald Trump signed a directive, ordering a “regulatory freeze pending review” for all federal agency rules that had been finalized that have not yet taken effect.
Emails sent to EPA staff and reviewed by The Associated Press also detailed peculiar restrictions such as banning press releases, blog updates or posts to the agency’s social media accounts. The Trump administration has also ordered what it called a temporary suspension of all new business activities at the department, including issuing task orders or work assignments to EPA contractors. The orders were expected to have a significant and immediate impact on EPA activities nationwide. EPA contracts with outside vendors for a wide array of services, from engineering and research science to janitorial supplies.
