Trump proposes rule to bar citizen lawsuits against polluters

The U.S. Department of Justice, under the administration of former President Donald Trump, has issued a new policy that restricts private citizens from enforcing federal environmental regulations. The memo, released in March, clarifies that the DOJ will no longer support or defend civil suits brought by individuals or nonprofit groups seeking to hold polluters accountable for violations of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and other environmental statutes. The directive cites a shift toward a “pro‑business” approach, arguing that private enforcement has led to “unnecessary litigation” and “excessive regulatory burdens” on industry.

The policy change follows a broader trend of the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back environmental protections, including the repeal of the Clean Power Plan and the weakening of the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse‑gas emissions. Critics argue that the new stance will leave many communities without a legal avenue to challenge local pollution, potentially undermining enforcement of existing federal standards. The DOJ’s memo also instructs federal prosecutors to focus resources on criminal enforcement of environmental laws, rather than civil enforcement by private parties. The move has sparked concern among environmental groups, who warn that it could erode the legal framework that has historically held polluters accountable and protect public health and ecosystems.