Climate science, policy, politics, and action
Join us for a virtual FEMA rally and teach-in!
We are excited to host signers of the Katrina Declaration and rally behind them as they teach us about what FEMA does.
Please register for the Zoom webinar and we will see you Thursday 8/28 at 8p et/5p PT.
What if thousands of us ran for local office on climate? With climate action stalled federally, cities, counties, and states have a huge opportunity to lead, which is why we need progressive climate champions in office at all levels of government now more than ever.
On August 27 at 6pm ET/3pm PT, Lead Locally is hosting a virtual panel featuring elected climate leaders from across the country. In this moment, voters are calling for a change in leadership – generationally, and politically – at all levels of government.
Zohran Mamdani’s historic win in NYC’s mayoral primary, for instance, provides one exciting model of what new leadership on climate can look like. From fare-free buses to green public schools, his bold climate platform centered on making the city more affordable and livable for working class families.
Aru Shiney-Ajay, Sunrise Movement’s Executive Director, will be joining us for a conversation with three elected climate champions from across the country to hear about how they successfully ran for local office and how they’re governing in the face of the Trump administration’s attacks on our planet and communities:
Panelists will share with us:
This call is for all, whether you are just curious about local climate politics or you are committed to running for local office already.
ADVISORY
Administrator Zeldin Announces New Name for EPA:
Environmental Pollution Agency
Name change reflects new pro-polluters mission under President Trump
Adm. Zeldin to host renaming ceremony at EPA on Thursday
EAST PALESTINE, OHIO – While visiting the site of an infamous 2023 chemical spill, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the EPA would henceforth be known as the Environmental Pollution Agency to better align with the Trump administration’s pro-pollution agenda.
“For too long the EPA has worked for Americans who want clean air, clean water, and safe environments,” said Administrator Zeldin. “Under President Trump, we’re giving the power back to America’s patriotic fossil fuel and chemical companies. The same guys who raise your electric bill every year should be able to dump where they want without government interference. It’s called freedom.”
The name change comes on the heels of Administrator Zeldin’s other moves to prioritize polluters at the EPA, including dismantling the Office of Research & Development; reconsidering the ban on asbestos and regulations related to wastewater and mercury; and taking steps to allow the oil, gas, automotive, and other industries to pollute to their hearts’ desire.
Administrator Zeldin further announced that he will officiate a renaming ceremony this Thursday, August 7, at 10 a.m. Media and the public are invited to join him at the EPA (12th St. NW between Pennsylvania and Constitution Aves.) at that time. Please RSVP to [email protected].
“The Climate Hoax is DEAD! Just like I PROMISED during the Campaign when I told oil execs why they should give me a BILLION dollars — we’re ENDING the ridiculous, job-destroying “Environmental” Regulations that the Radical Left loves so much,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. “Lee and I are doing an INCREDIBLE job with the Environmental POLLUTION Agency (much better name!). No more Green New Scam — America FIRST means chemical runoff in EVERY backyard and FIRES in every river — just like the GOOD OLD DAYS!!!”
“I commend the Trump administration for taking steps to get rid of the Endangerment Finding that’s been regulating greenhouse gases — or as we call them, Miracle Molecules,” said Michael K. Wirth, CEO of Chevron. “True to its name, the finding endangers small businesses like mine. Thank you to President Trump for the freedom to pollute.”
“Naysayers will claim that pulling back regulations will cause more disasters like the deadly floods in Texas,” said EPA spokeswoman Melinda McFossilShill. “This is 100% false. We all know that floods and hurricanes are caused either by God’s wrath or by suspicious minority groups manipulating the weather.”
Full committee hearing to consider nominations.
Nominees:
Switzer served as the Director of Policy and Strategy for the Special Envoy Office for Critical and Emerging Technology (S/TECH) at the U.S. Department of State. Prior to joining S/TECH, Rick was a Senior Fellow at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Rick was also the State Department Chair visiting professor at the National Intelligence University teaching graduate courses on China’s economy and innovation system. He served as a member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Council and from 2018 to 2019, and he was a Senior State Department Advisor to the Department of Defense working with the Air Force and the Army. Preceding that he was the Environment, Science, Technology and Health Counselor at Embassy Beijing.
Chiarello most recently was Senior Special Counsel to the House Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan. He serves on the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, chaired by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald. Previously, Chiarello served as an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He also served as an Attorney Advisor to Acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen during the first Trump Administration. Chiarello received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Human Resource Management from the Catholic University of America. He also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a law degree from George Mason University.
Stuart currently serves as a West Virginia State Senator. Elected in 2022, he represents the people of Logan, Lincoln, Boone, and Kanawha counties. Previously, Senator Stuart served as a United States District Attorney, as the Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, and as a corporate attorney for Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (corporate services and tax practice group).
Theurer was Republican Chief Tax Counsel for the House Committee on Ways and Means. Previously he served as Senior Tax Counsel for Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, contributing to construction and passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He also was Vice President of Tax and Fiscal Policy at the Business Roundtable. He spent the first decade of his career with Exxon Mobil Corporation, working in tax advisory and senior government affairs roles. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Utah State University, a J.D. in Tax Law & Policy Specialization from UCLA School of Law, and an LL.M. in Tax from NYU School of Law.
Subcommittee hearing entitled: “The Future is Loper Bright: Congress’s Role in the Regulatory Landscape.”
Witnesses:
Full committee hearing of the USDA reorganization proposal.
Witness:
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee Executive Session on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider the following:
Agenda:
Nomination of Neil Jacobs, of North Carolina, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA Administrator) - Agreed to by voice vote. Markey, Blunt-Rochester, Peters, Duckworth, Hickenlooper, Fetterman, Kim recorded as noes after the fact.
Nomination of Paul Roberti, of Rhode Island, to be Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Roll call vote 22-6. R aye: Wicker Fischer Moran Sullivan Blackburn Young Budd Schmitt Moreno Sheehy Capito Lummis. R Aye by proxy: Thune, Curtis. Curtis. D aye: Cantwell Rosen. D aye by proxy: Klobuchar Peters Baldwin Duckworth Fetterman. D no: Markey Luján Hickenlooper Kim Blunt-Rochester Schatz. (Cantwell initially asked for Schatz to be aye by proxy)
Nomination of Gregory Zerzan, of Texas, to be General Counsel of the Department of Transportation. Roll call vote 15-13. R aye: Wicker Fischer Moran Sullivan Blackburn Young Budd Schmitt Curtis Moreno Sheehy Capito Lummis Cruz. R aye by proxy Thune. D no: Cantwell Klobuchar Schatz Markey Peters Baldwin Duckworth Rosen Luján Hickenlooper Fetterman Kim Blunt-Rochester
Nomination of Taylor Jordan, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction (NOAA). Roll call vote: 15-13. Same as above.
Nomination of Jonathan Morrison, of California, to be Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Roll call vote: 16-12. Peters aye by proxy.
Nomination of Derek Barrs, of Florida, to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Roll call vote: 15-13.
Nomination of Michael Rutherford, of Florida, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy. Roll call vote: 15-13.
Nomination of Harry Kumar, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. Not voted on.
Nomination of Seval Oz, of California, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology. Not voted on.
Coast Guard Promotions (PN 127-2, PN 367, PN 371, PN 414) - Agreed to by voice vote
S.2314, SHARKED Act of 2025 (Scott-FL) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell
S.2318, Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act (Blunt-Rochester) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell
S.2351, Space Exploration Research Act (Cruz) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell
S.1691, Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025 (Merkley). Not voted on.
Full committee markup.
Legislation:
Full committee business meeting.
Nominees:
The nomination hearing was held on July 9. David Eisner withdrew his nomination to be Department of Energy Assistant Secretary of International Affairs.
Audrey Robinson is an oil executive who “helped found Denver-based Franklin Mountain Energy, a since-sold natural gas fracking firm in the Permian Basin with an open investigation at EPA over recent Clean Air Act violations.” She “also sits on the board of Liberty Energy, the fracking services company led by Energy Secretary Chris Wright until his resignation in January. Earlier in her career, Robertson worked at Goldman Sachs and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, an investment firm focused on fossil fuels.”
Tim Walsh is a Colorado real estate developer who “has donated over $2.5 million to Republican candidates and conservative causes since 2022.”
All nominees were backed 11-9, Justice voting aye by proxy, all Democrats opposed.