The acting chair, Mark Uyeda, is directing the Securities and Exchange Commission to pause its legal defense of a rule requiring companies to make climate disclosures.
The first full draft of the assessment, on the state of Americaβs land, water and wildlife, was weeks from completion. The project leader called the study βtoo important to die.β
About 80 percent of manufacturing investments spurred by a Biden-era climate law have flowed to Republican districts. Efforts to stop federal payments are already causing pain.
Emboldened by President Trump, West Virginia and other states are challenging the Climate Change Superfund Act, which makes corporate polluters pay for past emissions.
Some $35 billion is aimed at building small solar sites in rural areas and other improvements. The World Bank chief called the project βfoundational to everything.β
Oil and gas executives welcomed President Trumpβs early moves on energy policy, but many said they did not plan to increase production unless prices rose significantly.
There are 206 coal-burning power plants left in the United States, which supply about 16 percent of the countryβs energy. Experts say burning more doesnβt make financial sense.
βIβd rather see the states take care of their own problems,β the president said. Federal emergency managers from both parties have made the same argument.