Trump enlisted Musk to trim the federal budget. Will this include cuts to fossil fuel subsidies?

President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to cut $2 trillion in federal spending may unexpectedly threaten fossil fuel subsidies, a potential boon for environmental advocates.

Tik Root reports for Grist.

In short:

Trump appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with cutting federal spending by one-third and shrinking the workforce by 75%.
The U.S. provides fossil fuel subsidies ranging from $18 billion to $757 billion annually, depending on calculations, which could be targeted amid budget cuts.
Environmental experts argue that the largest subsidy is the industry's ability to pollute without full accountability, which DOGE may not address.

Key quote:

“The biggest subsidy is allowing these companies to freeload off our health.”

— Mark Jacobson, Stanford University professor of civil and environmental engineering

Why this matters:

Reducing fossil fuel subsidies could redirect billions to climate initiatives and reduce industry influence, but entrenched interests may resist reforms. The outcome could signal the direction of environmental policy under Trump’s leadership.

grist.org

Trump enlisted Musk to trim the federal budget. Will this include cuts to fossil fuel subsidies?

How Florida ties localities’ hands on everything from environmental regulation to worker protections

Opinion: We have a climate imagination problem

How Saudi oil scientists ended up working on the world’s most important climate reports

Judge says US EPA illegally canceled $7B solar program

Nepal’s Gen Z is taking on the world’s polluters over climate disasters

Tribes hit hard by wildfires face health effects, cultural losses

Climate super-pollutant from China’s electric grid is cooking the planet

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.