Ocean Conservancy’s CEO Janis Searles Jones (@InVeritas_Jones) released the following statement on President Trump’s executive order to to accelerate his ongoing effort to roll back basic environmental protections in service to corporate polluters.

“President Trump’s executive order today is shameful opportunism.  At a time when our nation should be focused on solidarity and safely coming together to support people and communities affected by pervasive racial injustice, COVID-19 and the economic downturn, the president is instead using his authority to accelerate his ongoing effort to roll back basic environmental protections in service to corporate polluters.

The president claims this is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s not. His actions will actually harm the communities already hit hardest by COVID-19 by undermining environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act. These bedrock environmental laws mandate a “look before you leap” approach to our natural resources and the benefits they provide to all Americans. Today, Trump is trying to remove the guardrails from essential science-based decision-making related to land, clean water and protection of endangered animals. We must unite in opposing this opportunistic and self-serving approach.”

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Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.