Under the shadow of COP30 negotiations in Belém, the United States has taken some of its most sweeping steps in decades to dismantle environmental protections. While nearly 200 governments work to shore up global climate action, the U.S. — notably absent from this year’s summit — has moved to weaken three core pillars of its domestic environmental framework: the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and offshore drilling restrictions.
The pace and scale of the changes have alarmed environmental law experts.
“This was the week from hell for environmental policy in the United States,” said Pat Parenteau, professor emeritus and senior fellow for climate policy at Vermont Law and Graduate School. “Unless stopped by the courts, each of these proposed rollbacks will do irreparable harm.”
Clean Water Act Narrowed
On Monday – 17 November, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a major revision to the Clean Water Act, significantly narrowing the definition of “waters of the United States.” The change could strip protections from up to 55 million acres of wetlands — nearly 85% of all wetlands nationwide — allowing developers and industry to bypass federal permits.
Supporters argue the move removes unnecessary bureaucracy for farmers and landowners. Critics say it will degrade drinking water quality and accelerate ecosystem loss.
Endangered Species Act Rewritten
Two days later, federal wildlife agencies announced changes to how the Endangered Species Act is applied. For the first time, economic considerations — such as foregone oil and gas revenues — could influence whether a species is listed as endangered. Currently, only scientific evidence is allowed.
Environmental law scholars say the change weakens the Act’s core purpose. “We’re going to lose species and their habitats in a death-by-a-thousand-cuts way,” warned Andrew Mergen of Harvard Law School.
Offshore Drilling Expanded to 1.3 Billion Acres
On Thursday, the Interior Department proposed opening 1.27 billion acres of U.S. coastal waters for new oil and gas drilling, including previously untouched areas in the high Arctic. While analysts expect limited interest in the Arctic and California waters, the Gulf of Mexico — where infrastructure already exists — is likely to see strong demand.
The Gulf is also home to the critically endangered Rice’s whale, with fewer than 100 remaining. Conservation groups warn that expanded drilling could push the species toward extinction.
Political Context and Global Implications
The Trump administration insists the timing is unrelated to COP30, where the U.S. is the only major emitter not participating. The White House emphasized the administration’s focus on “American energy dominance,” while industry groups celebrated the moves as boosting competitiveness.
Environmental groups say the rollbacks mark a dramatic departure from global climate diplomacy at a moment when scientific warnings intensify. The proposals could take up to two years to finalize, and are expected to face extensive litigation.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said his goal is to make the regulations “durable and withstand future swings of presidential elections,” suggesting 2025 could be “a record year for deregulation.”
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