Uphold open discourse, advance environmental justice

The Trump administration's actions are deeply concerning for transparency and public discourse on critical environmental issues. By blocking federal employees from participating in the Loyola Marymount University symposium on environmental justice, the administration is stifling vital dialogue and the free exchange of information between government and academic institutions. This move undermines principles of academic freedom and open civil discourse that are essential for addressing complex challenges like climate change and environmental degradation. Furthermore, the administration's broader efforts to dismantle environmental protections, strip references to climate change from government websites, and sow confusion within agencies like the EPA threaten to derail progress on sustainability initiatives and environmental justice campaigns. Marginalizing the voices of career experts and scientific data will only exacerbate the disproportionate impact of pollution and climate risks on vulnerable communities. It is imperative that the federal government maintains open communication channels, respects the role of independent research, and upholds its commitment to ensure equal environmental protections for all people, regardless of race, income, or background. Restricting the flow of information and silencing key stakeholders is counterproductive and will only hinder our ability to confront the intertwined crises of environmental degradation and social inequality. We urge a course correction to reinstate collaborative relationships with academic and civil society partners working to advance environmental justice and sustainable solutions. These challenges require collective action informed by diverse perspectives and empirical evidence, not the suppression of critical voices.