Since his inauguration in January, Trump has initiated 145 separate actions to weaken environmental regulations, with many favoring the fossil fuel industry. That's more than one rollback per day, and a significantly faster pace than the 110 environmental rules reversed during his first presidency, according to research by Columbia and Harvard law schools.

"This is unlike anything we've seen before," said Michael Burger, executive director of Columbia University's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. "The administration is rushing through policies with minimal process, often disregarding the law altogether."

Fossil fuel-driven agenda

Through executive orders and agency directives, Trump has withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement, frozen federal climate spending, gutted pollution standards, and fast-tracked oil and gas drilling on public lands — including in the Arctic. Half of America's national forests could now be opened to logging, and key protections for endangered species and national monuments are on the chopping block.

A sweeping "energy emergency" declaration has allowed dozens of coal plants to bypass clean air rules, while Trump has ordered the revival of offshore drilling and the expansion of gas exports. In contrast, solar and wind projects have been blocked, with Trump calling wind turbines "ugly" and "disgusting".

"Drill, baby, drill" has become administration policy, with Trump hailing fossil fuels as "liquid gold" and opening even the Pacific Ocean seabed to mining.

A legal and institutional crisis

Trump's Environmental Protection Agency, led by Lee Zeldin, has announced dozens of regulatory reversals — 31 in one day alone — including rollbacks to pollution standards expected to save over 200,000 lives. Zeldin described the moves as "a dagger to the heart of climate change extremism."

But many of these rollbacks are legally shaky. Lawsuits are being filed across the country, and courts have already struck down several moves for failing to follow established procedures. Meanwhile, a controversial executive order demands the automatic expiration of at least 25 environmental laws next year unless explicitly renewed — a move experts say could trigger a constitutional crisis.

"The goal is to overwhelm the system," Burger warned. "Even if most of these actions are blocked, the cumulative damage to regulatory institutions and public health will be significant."

Science sidelined, federal staff purged

The administration has dismissed thousands of career staff tasked with crafting regulatory rules, creating a vacuum that experts say may delay or derail implementation.

Harvard environmental law expert Carrie Jenks noted that some rule changes are being pushed without the required public comment period, raising questions about transparency and legality. "'Because I said so' is not a legal justification," she said.

Trump has also fixated on personal pet peeves, including banning paper straws in federal offices and repealing efficiency rules for toilets and showers. "I like to take care of my beautiful hair," Trump said, complaining that showers don't release enough water.

Industry cheers, environmentalists alarmed

Fossil fuel executives have celebrated the shift. "Trump is delivering on our priorities," said Mike Sommers of the American Petroleum Institute, pointing to booming domestic production.

But environmentalists have been left reeling. "No American president has ever been this openly hostile to science, to regulation, or to the climate," said Jason Rylander of the Center for Biological Diversity. "Every rollback benefits polluters and puts more lives at risk."

With the pace of deregulation showing no sign of slowing, experts warn that the next phase of Trump's presidency could further undermine the rule of law and accelerate the climate crisis.

"We're witnessing a dismantling of decades of progress," Burger said. "The health of our environment, our institutions, and our democracy is now on the line."