Trump administration gets a failing grade in science
President Donald Trump holds an executive order last Wednesday instructing the Defense Department to prioritize purchases from U.S. coal plants as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, left, House Speaker Mike Johnson, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and coal miners observe. Trump was presented with the bronze statue of a coal miner as the "Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal." Credit: AP/Evan Vucci
Where is the “Protection” in the Environmental Protection Agency when it comes to the Trump administration’s repeal of the endangerment finding? The finding was based on scientific evidence that stated that climate change endangers human health and the environment [“Scientific finding on climate change revoked,” News, Feb. 13]. This has been accepted by presidents dating to Richard Nixon.
The overwhelming majority of scientists around the world agree that carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases are dangerously heating the planet and supercharging storms, droughts, heat waves, and sea level rise.
Conservative administration officials led this charge, including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who said it “strangled entire sectors of the United States economy, including the auto industry.” The future of the auto industry should be focused on electric, not solely fossil fuels. The administration’s decisions are costing automakers billions of dollars as they retract from electric vehicles.
Is that supporting U.S. automakers?
Dismantling green energy initiatives is shortsighted, devastating to our planet, risks our health, and dismisses economic opportunities. Promoting fossil fuels will not create the energy dominance we need. It is also unconscionable that human health is second to this administration’s supposed economic gains. Our long-term survival should not be a partisan decision.
— John Hallowell, Great River
Rejecting the endangerment finding that proves oil and gas emissions are harmful to human life is directly in opposition to scientific consensus [“How policy change could impact Island,” News, Feb. 13]. It makes as much sense as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s stance on vaccines for vaccine-preventable diseases.
Similarly, although Gov. Kathy Hochul is deliberately slowing its implementation, New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act seeks to limit emissions, but if climate action is out of style, call it an energy affordability policy or, as Europe calls it, energy security. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupted gas supplies and the United States has become an untrustworthy partner, European countries are turning to giant offshore wind projects.
China is far ahead as the innovator, producer, and user of clean energy, exporting it to the growing number of developing countries in their sphere of influence.
New York gas prices soared as demand rose this winter, but the two small offshore wind plants already operating performed as well or better than fossil fuel plants at a fraction of the cost.
— Bridget Nixdorf, Islip Terrace
A Long Islander, Lee Zeldin deserves the contempt of all Nassau and Suffolk county residents. He has just given the go-ahead to fossil fuel companies to pollute at will.
Besides water quality problems posed by our fragile aquifer system, Long Island faces significant air pollution hazards that regularly trigger air quality health advisories. We’re home to more than two dozen power plants releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Zeldin’s proven indifference to environmental quality is reflected by the low 14% score he earned from the League of Conservation Voters over his eight-year congressional career. It’s pathetic to witness Zeldin’s unabashed betrayal of Long Island’s public health interests.
— Steve Vitoff, Huntington
President Donald Trump and Lee Zeldin seem to be intent on leaving a legacy of climate destruction. They show no concern for us, the Earth, or any of the life we share it with. Their interests seem to lie only in enriching themselves and their billionaire buddies from the fossil fuel industry. Trump, Zeldin, and the Republican Party have betrayed us and our planet, and they have forsaken public health, our right to clean air, and our children’s future.
— Jennifer Vogt, East Northport
Once a rising star on Long Island, Lee Zeldin is now trying to rise in the national scene on the shoulders of Donald Trump and seems to be saying anything Trump wants him to say. Zeldin has become a puppet on a string.
— Gene Reynolds, Ridge
Thank you, President Trump and Mr. Zeldin. I can’t wait to again own a car spewing thick, black clouds of smoke from the tailpipe. I also have missed the brown haze in the sky.
— Juan Subirana, East Meadow
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN OUR DAILY CONVERSATION. Just go to newsday.com/submitaletter and follow the prompts. Or email your opinion to letters@newsday.com. Submissions should be no more than 200 words. Please provide your full name, hometown, phone number and any relevant expertise or affiliation. Include the headline and date of the article you are responding to. Letters become the property of Newsday and are edited for all media. Due to volume, readers are limited to one letter in print every 45 days. Published letters reflect the ratio received on each topic.
