<P> President Trump appointed the Attorney General of Oklahoma, Scott Pruitt, as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While serving as Attorney General, Pruitt removed Oklahoma's environmental protection unit and sued the EPA a total of fourteen times, thirteen of which involved "industry players" as co-parties . His nomination to head the EPA was confirmed on February 17, 2017 with a 52 - 46 vote . In addition, President Trump appointed Rex W. Tillerson, the former chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil, as secretary of state . His nomination was confirmed on February 1, 2017 with a 56 - 43 vote . </P> <P> An executive order was issued by President Trump on January 24, 2017 that removed barriers from the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline s, making it easier for the companies sponsoring them to continue with production . On March 29, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order aimed towards boosting the coal industry . The executive order rolls back on Obama - era climate regulations on the coal industry in order to grow the coal sector and create new American jobs . The White House has indicated that any climate change policies that they deem hinder the growth of American jobs will not be pursued . In addition, the executive order rolls back on six Obama - made orders aimed at reducing climate change and carbon dioxide emissions and calls for a review of the Clean Power Plan . </P> <P> In his early 2017 budget proposal, President Trump presented cutting about 31% of the EPA as a result of budget decreases . President Trump cut one - third of the Environmental Protection Agency's current funding - about $2.6 billion from its current $8.2 billion budget . If passed, this would be the lowest budget the EPA has had in 40 years . </P> <P> The shift in direction of environmental policy in the United States under the Trump administration has led to a change in the environmental justice sector . On March 9, 2017, Mustafa Ali, a leader of the environmental justice sector in the EPA, resigned over proposed cuts to the environmental justice sector of the EPA . The preliminary budget proposals would cut the environmental justice office's budget by 1 / 4, causing a 20% reduction in its workforce . The environmental justice program is one of a dozen vulnerable to losing all governmental funding . </P>

When did the us enact laws and policies to protect the environment