FIRST: the Trump administration defied the Constitution to unilaterally freeze every federally funded program nationwide.

THEN: they “rescinded” the order in the face of public outrage.

NOW: they STILL aren’t making many of the payments. And Russell Vought — the man who outlined the illegal freeze in the Project 2025 manifesto — was just confirmed by Republicans in the Senate to lead the Office of Management and Budget, which oversees policy and budget decisions for the president.

Our teams are continuing to rally public outcry over the spending freeze — and to resist Vought’s dangerous Project 2025 agenda, which threatens all environmental protections, critical support for seniors, homeowners, farmers, schools, and disaster victims, and the health and safety of all our communities. Given the urgency of this moment, we’re calling on every LCV supporter: we need your help.

We’ve set an urgent goal to raise $20,000 before the end of the month to mount a response. Please, Friend — renew your membership today. Give whatever you can — but all it takes is $5 to renew.

In the midst of Vought’s confirmation fight, unelected billionaire Elon Musk also menaced more than 1,100 employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with firing at any moment, even though it’s likely illegal. That’s on top of the ENTIRE Office of Environmental Justice being put on administrative leave.

These are the people who enforce our most fundamental environmental laws, programs, and safeguards and ensure that rules are applied fairly in the most vulnerable communities and against big polluters. These are public servants and scientists who:

• Staff the programs that guard against air and water pollution. 
• Administer brownfields redevelopment and clean energy funding.
• Manage programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our communities from climate change.
• Drive the work to replace lead pipes that carry our drinking water. 
• Inspect and remediate toxic waste sites… and much more.

If Trump succeeds at gutting the EPA, communities around the country will face contaminated drinking water, dirtier air, and virtually no enforcement of environmental laws — a return to a dangerous past when polluters were free to pollute our air, lands, and water that we must not return to.

But as bad as things seem right now, I want you to know that there are still ways to make a difference. Trump has already walked back parts of his spending freeze thanks to pressure from people in every part of the country — proof that our voices collectively have power.

His Cabinet picks are getting put through the wringer. Matt Gaetz needed to withdraw — and even Republicans are questioning some of Trump’s latest choices.

During Trump’s first term, the environmental movement was able to stop some of the worst attacks on the environment by organizing, mobilizing our supporters, and engaging leaders to stand strong on core protections. We blocked pipelines. We saved public lands. We advanced clean energy — and we did it with supporters like YOU.

Stopping his agenda again is going to take all of us pitching in. Renew your LCV membership today, Friend — it only costs $5 >>

Thank you for everything that you do. It’s good to know that when things get tough, you’re willing to step up.

And we promise — we will always be here to protect people and the planet and take the fight to polluters and their crooked allies.

Onward,

Chris Brooks
Vice President of Membership
League of Conservation Voters