How Trump’s EPA could use ‘science’ to weaken environmental protections

President-elect Donald Trump's administration is likely to loosen regulations on industries, particularly oil, gas, and petrochemicals, allowing them to pollute more. The administration may use the language of science to weaken environmental and health protections and write regulations favorable to industry. This approach was seen in the first Trump administration and in conservative agendas like Project 2025. Project 2025 was written by former Trump administration officials and suggests using terms like "transparency," "citizen science," and "uncertainty" to undermine environmental protections. The author, who researched the first Trump administration, warns that these tactics could have profound effects on environmental health. One way the administration could use the language of science is by "strengthening transparency" to block the use of health data, which could prevent the government from considering important health research in setting pollution limits. Another tactic is "boosting public scrutiny of the EPA" through "citizen science," which could give wealthy industries a greater voice while sidelining affected communities. The administration may also use "uncertainty" to avoid regulating chemicals, which could lead to EPA analyses that understate the risks of toxic chemicals. The author's team is working to identify vulnerable federal web pages and datasets to track and address climate and environmental change. The author believes the next EPA will use language that appears to boost research openness and citizen participation but is aimed at undermining policies that protect human health and the environment.