The public gives the new pro-polluter EPA a piece of its mind

In the wake of President Trump’s recent executive order to repeal, replace, or revise federal rules, the water program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staged a virtual listening session to solicit feedback from the public on some so-called “burdensome regulations.” Given that the agency scheduled the event during workday hours and limited the number of participants, it seemed certain that the fix was in. But our fellow citizens were not dissuaded. They showed up on the call and gave EPA officials an earful, lashing out at the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back regulations like clean water protections. Indeed, the overwhelming majority of participants urged the agency to strengthen its enforcement of rules that hold polluters accountable. This, of course, is not the first time Trump’s EPA has held a sham public hearing that blew up in its face.