Trump's Water Legacy: Pollution And Environmental Threats

Former US President Donald Trump has been criticised for his administration's environmental policies, particularly regarding water pollution. In 2025, Trump signed an executive order to reverse water efficiency and conservation regulations implemented by his predecessors, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. This move was criticised as wasteful and unnecessary by consumer and conservation groups. Additionally, the Trump administration weakened federal clean water protections, such as the Clean Water Rule and the 1972 Clean Water Act, and allowed mining companies to dump waste into rivers. These actions were seen as prioritising economic growth and personal freedom over environmental protection and raised concerns about the potential impact on water quality and vulnerable communities. Trump's policies on water management and pollution have been a topic of debate and have prompted legal challenges from environmental groups.

Trump's executive order to reverse water efficiency and conservation efforts

In April 2025, former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ease rules restricting water flow, in an attempt to "'make America's showers great again'". The order directed the Secretary of Energy to rescind a change introduced by the Obama administration, which restricted multi-nozzle showers from discharging more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute overall.

Trump argued that this restriction was part of a "'radical green agenda' that made life more difficult for Americans, citing the amount of time it takes to wet his hair in the shower as an example. This move was criticised by consumer and conservation groups as wasteful and unnecessary, especially since efficiency standards reduce water waste, save consumers money, and help protect the environment.

Trump's executive order sought to undo the Obama-Biden definition of "showerhead" and return to the simpler definition from the 1992 energy law. It is important to note that Trump's administration had previously attempted to redefine the 1992 law to introduce modern showerhead designs with multiple nozzles, which was later rescinded by the Biden administration.

Beyond showerheads, Trump's executive order also targeted other household appliances, including toilets and sinks. This aligns with his administration's broader efforts to roll back energy-efficiency standards, such as those for lightbulbs, and create loopholes for less efficient appliances. Trump justified these actions by prioritising consumer choice and dismantling unnecessary regulations.

In contrast, in 2024, Trump signed an Executive Order on "Modernizing America's Water Resource Management and Water Infrastructure". This order aimed to improve Federal coordination on water policy and establish a Water Subcabinet to facilitate efficient and effective management of water supplies and systems. The Trump administration emphasised the importance of ensuring safe and reliable water resources for all Americans and streamlining water management to foster innovation and enhance public health.

Trump's dismantling of environmental rules

In 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order to "'Make America's Showers Great Again'" by easing rules restricting water flow. The order directed the Secretary of Energy to rescind a rule introduced by Barack Obama that restricted multi-nozzle showerheads from discharging more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Trump characterised this rule as part of a "'radical green agenda' that made life worse for Americans. This move was in line with his commitment to dismantle unnecessary regulations and put Americans first.

However, consumer and conservation groups argued that changing the rules was wasteful and unnecessary. The Appliance Standards Awareness Project, for example, noted that efficiency standards in the US reduce water waste, save consumers money, and help protect the environment.

Beyond the issue of showerheads, the Trump administration took other actions that were seen as dismantling environmental rules. Notably, the administration stripped pollution safeguards from drinking water sources, including the reversal of a ban on mining companies dumping their waste into rivers. This move, known as the "Dirty Water Rule," was criticised by experts and advocates who warned that it would put clean drinking water for tens of millions of people at risk, especially low-income communities and communities of colour.

The Trump administration also targeted the Clean Water Rule and the landmark 1972 Clean Water Act. The new, narrower definition of water protections maintained safeguards for major rivers but not for short-lived streams, wetlands, and other bodies of water that feed into them. Additionally, the administration adopted a radical new interpretation of the Clean Water Act, creating a water pollution loophole by excluding pollution discharges into protected waters via groundwater from regulation.

In California, Trump also drew criticism for his approach to water allocation. He sided with farmers who wanted more water for irrigation, without considering the delicate balance of the ecosystem, which included the protection of a certain kind of three-inch fish called the delta smelt.

Trump's rollback of Obama-era clean water protections

In 2019, the Trump administration repealed the Obama-era clean water rule, which was developed to limit pollution in roughly 60% of the country's bodies of water. The Obama rule gave the federal government the authority to oversee a wide range of lakes, streams, and wetlands connected to significant waterways protected under the 1972 Clean Water Act. The repeal was the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to weaken environmental protections, including curtailing regulations on methane emissions and energy-efficient light bulbs and promoting oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The Trump administration's decision to roll back the clean water rule was met with criticism from environmental groups, who argued that loosening restrictions would significantly harm the country's sources of safe drinking water and wildlife habitats. They also claimed that the Obama rule was based on solid science and smart public policy, effectively protecting important waterways and wetlands. However, farming, oil and gas, and golf course interest groups supported the repeal, stating that it eliminated restrictions on their use of land and water resources.

The Trump administration justified its actions by characterizing the Obama-era rule as an "egregious power grab" and part of a "war on water pressure." They argued that the previous administration's lengthy definitions and regulations on "showerheads" and water flow were unnecessary and burdensome for Americans. President Trump sought to undo these definitions and restore what he considered "shower freedom."

The Trump administration's broader approach to environmental regulations included reconsidering the official finding that greenhouse gases harm public health and taking aim at pollution rules for power plants, cars, and waterways. These actions, according to environmentalists, demonstrated a "malice toward the planet" and a prioritization of "polluter profits over people's lives." The rollbacks of environmental protections during the Trump administration could have far-reaching consequences for Americans' environment and health.

Trump's adoption of a radical new interpretation of the Clean Water Act

In 2022, the Trump administration adopted a radical new interpretation of some facets of the Clean Water Act, creating a water pollution loophole. The Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, established federal protection for all waters in the US. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Army Corps of Engineers are tasked with reviewing plans and deciding whether to give a green light to projects that could pollute water or destroy wetlands.

The Trump administration's EPA issued guidance that pollution discharges into protected waters via groundwater are categorically excluded from Clean Water Act regulation. This means that polluters can dispose of their waste through groundwater, which can eventually reach protected waters, without facing consequences.

In March 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to significantly reduce the number of waterways, such as wetlands, rivers, and streams, protected under the Clean Water Act. This decision was based on the 2023 Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency Supreme Court ruling, which found that wetlands without a "continuous surface connection" to major lakes and rivers were not subject to the Clean Water Act. As a result, more than half of America's wetlands lost protection, making it easier for pollutants to be dumped or for wetlands to be destroyed.

Trump's interpretation of the Clean Water Act has been criticized by environmental groups and seen as a concession to industry and development interests, who have long attacked the Act's protections.

Trump's promise to end the 'war on water pressure'

In April 2025, former US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to "make America's showers great again" by easing rules restricting water flow. The order directed the Secretary of Energy to rescind a change introduced by the Obama-Biden administration that restricted multi-nozzle showerheads from discharging more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute collectively. Trump characterised this regulation as part of a ""radical green agenda" that inconvenienced Americans, citing the amount of time it took to wet his hair as an example.

Trump's order sought to undo the Obama-Biden definition of "showerhead" and return to the simpler definition from the 1992 energy law. This move was in line with his commitment to cut red tape, dismantle unnecessary regulations, and prioritise Americans' freedom of choice. Trump had previously expressed frustration with low water pressure in showers, sinks, and toilets, blaming federal water-conservation standards.

Trump's actions fit into a broader context of his administration's efforts to roll back energy efficiency standards and regulations for various household appliances, including lightbulbs, dishwashers, and washing machines. These rollbacks were often justified by appealing to consumer choice and economic growth, with the Trump administration arguing that such regulations were burdensome and unnecessary.

However, consumer and conservation groups have criticised these changes as wasteful and environmentally detrimental. They argue that efficiency standards help reduce water waste, save consumers money on utility bills, and protect the environment.

While Trump's executive order specifically targeted showerhead regulations, he expressed his desire to extend similar freedom to other water-using appliances. This aligns with his characterisation of the issue as the "Obama-Biden war on water pressure," implying a broader ideological conflict over water usage and regulation.

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