federal government
Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Trump’s plans unsettle federal workers
Federal employees fear for their jobs as Trump’s campaign promises to fire civil servants and demolish the “deep state.”
In short:
- Federal workers worry about job security and policy reversals under a potential second Trump administration.
- Trump’s new running mate, JD Vance, supports firing mid-level bureaucrats to reshape the federal workforce.
- Democrats are divided over President Biden’s re-election campaign amid his recent COVID-19 diagnosis.
Key quote:
“I think he’s learned more about what he needs to do with his incoming administration if he were to be elected.”
— National Park Service employee
Why this matters:
Federal employees are anxious about losing their jobs and seeing their work undone if Trump wins. This instability could impact the effectiveness and morale of the civil service.
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Credit: Dimitri Karastelev/Unsplash
Lawmakers urge the Biden administration to finalize climate disclosure rules for federal contractors
In a push to leverage the U.S. government's purchasing power for climate action, Congress members call for the rapid finalization of federal contractor climate disclosure rules.
In short:
- The proposed rules require major federal contractors to report carbon emissions and set reduction targets, aiming to align with the Paris Agreement.
- Critics argue the disclosures could be costly and pose national security risks, while supporters see them as crucial for transparency and environmental accountability.
- The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council faces a tight deadline to avoid potential reversals of the climate regulations by future administrations.
Key quote:
"This rule will help the federal government protect taxpayer dollars, our national security, and government operations from the threats posed by climate change."
— Sen. Elizabeth Warren, (D -Mass.)
Why this matters:
Advocates argue that by requiring contractors to report their carbon emissions and set reduction targets, the federal government can leverage its purchasing power to drive positive environmental outcomes. However, the implementation of such measures faces challenges, including ensuring standardized reporting methodologies, addressing potential compliance costs for contractors, and navigating political dynamics surrounding climate policy.
Should lawyers be ethically obligated to protect the environment?
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Byzantine application process stymies funding for solar panels, electric buses
An unprecedented $538 billion promises to help the neediest communities transition to clean energy. But local officials say they’re ill-equipped to navigate the federal funding maze.
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Photo by David Veksler on Unsplash
Youth climate lawsuit against federal government headed for trial
A federal judge has ruled that a high-profile climate lawsuit, brought by a group of Oregon youth against the U.S. government, can finally go to trial.
Photo by Carly Hendrickson on Unsplash
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver wants the federal government to throw out Missouri’s regional haze plan
Congressional representatives from St. Louis and Kansas City and environmental groups argue the state’s plan doesn’t make meaningful attempts to reduce the pollution that causes haze.
Newsletter
America's coastal cities are a hidden time bomb
Wealthy homeowners will escape flooding. The middle class can’t.
Automotive Rhythms/Flickr
Fighting climate change was costly. Now it’s profitable.
Just how far can this climate momentum take us?
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