As we enter the midterm election cycle, PEER is deeply involved in exposing the corruption of the Trump administration and its intentional destruction of environmental and public health protections.
That is why we have developed a Congressional oversight agenda that will keep us busy in the coming months. Key areas of this agenda include keeping Congress and the public informed on:
- Presidential corruption and the misuse of taxpayer funds at agencies such as the National Park Service.
- The real-world effects of politicizing the civil service, cutting staff, and suppressing dissent on the environment and public health programs.
- The continuing assault on public lands, climate programs, toxic chemical regulations, and wildlife protections.
Check out our Congressional oversight agenda on the front page of PEEReview. Congress must be part of ensuring that the United States remains a nation of laws that values the environment and respects a merit-based civil service.
We are determined to help make that happen!
Onward,
Tim Whitehouse
Executive Director
Groups Challenge Phoenix Ozone Pollution Waiver
PEER and allied groups have petitioned for review of the Trump administration’s decision to waive stronger air pollution controls in Phoenix, one of the country’s smoggiest cities. The administration is pointing to emissions coming from as far away as Asia to justify giving Phoenix a free pass to pollute. The Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed granting a similar waiver for Northern Utah, including Salt Lake City, raising concerns about a growing trend of granting previously rare exemptions. Read More »
150+ Groups Urge Congress to Defend the Roadless Rule
PEER and over 150 tribes, organizations, and businesses signed on to a letter rejecting a bill that would invalidate the Roadless Rule, stripping protections from 45 million acres of wild forest on our public lands. If the bill passes, nearly a quarter of the national forest system would be vulnerable to road development, enabling harmful activities like major logging operations and oil and gas drilling. Read More »
HUD Issues Stealth Waiver of Flood Protection Standards
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is waiving flood protection standards for new housing built on flood plains and in coastal hazard areas. The stated rationale for extending a similar waiver first issued in 2025 is to make housing more affordable, but any potential savings in initial construction costs will be more than offset in higher flood insurance costs and increased flood damage. HUD’s waiver may also increase the amount of construction in environmentally sensitive areas. Read More »
Interior Secretary Burgum is Playing with Fire
Interior Secretary Burgum’s consolidation of agency communications has pulled many fire communications specialists, who keep the public informed about wildfires, away from their agencies. PEER Senior Counsel Peter Jenkins shares insider knowledge on how the reorganization has been carried out, and what it could mean for public safety this fire season. Read More »
The Endangered Species Act and the Importance of Federal Action
Protecting wildlife means protecting the scientists who do the work, ensuring decisions are transparent and science-based, maintaining strong environmental review, and demanding that these systems are funded and allowed to function. In his latest commentary, PEER Executive Director Tim Whitehouse explains why the federal government is critical to making this possible. Read More »
