1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

Recent actions by the Trump administration to weaken environmental regulations pose serious risks to public health, safety, and the long-term sustainability of natural resources. Rollbacks of clean air, clean water, and climate policies endanger communities, increase pollution, and undermine the nation’s ability to address climate change. Regulatory rollbacks include weakening air quality standards, reducing restrictions on industrial pollutants, and scaling back protections for waterways and public lands. These actions disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and low-income communities, while granting corporations greater freedom to prioritize profit over environmental safety. Congress has a constitutional and oversight responsibility to ensure that federal agencies protect the public interest and adhere to established scientific standards. Oversight should include: - Reviewing the impact of policy rollbacks on public health and the environment - Evaluating whether these actions comply with federal law and statutory mandates - Ensuring that agency decisions are guided by science, not political or corporate influence Unchecked, these rollbacks threaten Americans’ health, increase the risk of natural disasters, and compromise the country’s ability to meet global environmental commitments. They also set a dangerous precedent for politicizing scientific agencies and ignoring evidence-based policymaking. Congress must act to hold agencies accountable, restore protective regulations where necessary, and safeguard the health and well-being of all Americans. Environmental protections are not optional—they are essential for the public good and for preserving the nation’s resources for future generations.