GOP States Follow Trump’s Lead to Weaken Environmental Protections, Risking Public Health

Across the nation, Republican lawmakers are aggressively moving to restrict state-level environmental regulations, a troubling trend that echoes former President Donald Trump’s deregulatory campaign. Alabama’s recent legislation caps state agencies' ability to enforce pollution limits stricter than federal standards—even when urgent health risks arise.Who Protects Americans When States Limit Their Own Safeguards?On the surface, this measure is sold as a “pro-business” effort grounded in "sound science." Alabama legislators claim it will prevent regulatory overreach and protect residents from excessive costs. Yet the bill essentially shackles states from responding to emerging environmental threats unless harms can be conclusively proven by an...