Environmentalists have long encountered harassment. confinement and Other forms of retribution in some parts of the world. The United States was largely an exception, a place where people and organizations can freely and safely continue efforts to protect human health and nature – sometimes they work hand in hand with the government.
But the treatment of people who are fighting pollution has changed in recent months.
Commercial environmental groups face attacks by Trump administration, summonses to the court of criminal investigations, Internet circulation and lawsuits in the industry, according to them, are designed to intimidate them in silence. In the last weeks, Fears grew that the administration will seek to withdraw the non -profit status at least some groups.
Today, on Earth Day, Propublica publishes interviews with Ebigale Dilet, president of Earthjustice, the largest ecological firm in the country, about the escalation of the hostility faced by the environmentalists. Over the past five decades, Earthjustice lawyers have helped create the first federal restrictions on mercury and other chemicals that are ejected The disappearance of the view.
But the future of the environmental movement is in danger. Changing the Environmental Protection Agency headed that it was instructed to protect the air and the water of society. Presidential President Donald Trump Leader Lee Zeldin refused and criticized some environmental organizations. For eight non -profit groups that received $ 20 billion federal money aimed at promoting pure energy, Zeldin went on while working with the FBI over the criminal case to Foundation Fund of Green’s GasA grant program that finances them.
EPA moved to cancel funding in February after Zeldin compared the grant program in Congress before throwing Gold bars from the Titanic. Zeldin told Fox News that “in my opinion,” the whole scheme is criminal “, believing that there was a self-government and a conflict of interest. To investigate his requirements, a large jury was launched. Although the judge found that the EPA would not produce Any evidence of violationsThe agency froze the funds, and the federal authorities sent summonses to the organizations that received money.
Zeldin and Trump have publicly called for the name of the environment activists. After Fox News showed a photo of Beth Baft, executive director of one group, during an interview with Zeldin, she said she received dozens of messages and threats on her voicemail. In the social media, people responded to Zeldin’s online accusation calling for jail for the people he or she is guided by the state -owned treachery and even performs them.
Meanwhile, green groups face threats from lawsuits, which, according to them, are intended for intimidation and demolition of propaganda organizations. Dozens of states have passed laws to interfere with the so -called strategic claims against the public or Slapp’s claims. In March, jury in Northern Dakota, which does not have an anti-class law, found a Greenpeace environmental organization is responsible for more than $ 660 million For the role in protests over the Dakota Access pipeline. The pipeline company, energy transfer, claimed in court that Greenpeace slandered and organized criminal behavior by protesters. Greenpeace promised to appeal the sentence.
These activities have taken place when the new administration makes energy production with the main attention by changing the EPA priorities to include deregulation and “renewal energy”, making the US the capital of artificial intelligence and returning jobs to the car industry. The agency claims that, contrary to what many critics have said, these changes do not affect its commitment to the protection of clean air and clean water.
Dileglo sees the case Greenpeace and Increase in lawsuits aimed at freedom of speech In a broader sense, as soon as one of the growing threats to the organizations that work for the environmental maintenance – and the people who work for them. She spoke about the Proopublica about the targeting of non -profit groups than the second Trump administration is different from the first and that holds it at night. This interview was edited by length and clarity. PROPUBLICA addressed the EPA and the White House for comments but did not receive an answer.
Recently, non -profit leaders told me that their lives are transformed. One day, they are working on fulfilling the requirements of grants, the following are accused of participating in the criminal “scheme”. Do you know about others in this situation?
Yes. I heard people persecuting in their homes. Here’s what happens when the federal government sends a signal that people who have been legally provided by the government are actually scammers and scammers. These efforts to criminalize people who have properly received public grants have negative consequences on the Internet and in real life.
Is this new?
I can’t remember any such instance we see now. This is not the first time our customers have been threatened. Over the years, Earthjustice has been threatened. But this is a completely different thing when the federal government is the EPA administrator, the president himself is personally aimed at people on the Internet. This is fundamentally different, and it has a fundamentally different influence.
Recently, EarthJustice hired an external law firm to help customers the organization with Slapp costumes. Why did you feel the need to do this now?
Slapp suits aren’t new. And partly so we have Legislation against Slapp In many states. Now there is a tone that the president sets from above, promoting the idea that people who are trying to work in the benefit of society actually harm the country. This gives a license a large corporation to deploy high illness tactics, such as Slapp Rois. I am concerned that the attitude that this administration predicts about civil society is so negative that it will stimulate more hostile activity in the private sector. I also fear that a very noticeable resolution in the Slapp’s lawsuit against Greenpeace will lead to other companies and other major law firms.
We saw the administration plan to cancel the status of a non -profit university of Harvard University. Are you worried about the same thing that happens to environmental groups?
I worry about this administration in every way. But of course, any action would be illegal. The president cannot arm the IRS by sending an audit or deprived of tax released without proper processes and legal reasons. This type of attack is at the heart of our democracy and put a precedent that threatens not only environmental groups, but also all kinds of charity organizations: from neighborhood churches to the elimination of natural disasters and medical research institutions.
(Editor’s note: Time A lot of experts agree would be illegal In order for Trump to allow the IRS to remove the non -profit Harvard status, the president claimed that tax exemption is a “privilege” that can be recalled. On Monday, The politician reports that Zeldin told reporters that he did not think the government should broadly review the non -profit status of environmental groups.)
I noticed that environmental leaders are more ashamed to talk publicly. How do you think they lost while talking?
In this administration, this administration places the federal power and power of the Ministry of Justice, even the FBI, the ways that make it more and more terrible for anyone to speak. Now there is clearly a risk that by doing the usual job, you can become the goal of the administration. For the recipients of the Fund for reduction of greenhouse gases, this orientation has taken the form of investigation of a large jury.
What is the approach of the new administration to environmental issues different from the first Trump administration?
In Trump’s first administration, you had a very aggressive agenda to abolish environmental protection, but this method was not so different from what the past administrations did. This was largely lacking in the legally entrusted process of proposal of new rules, finalizing the policy of replacement and the creation of weaker policies. In retrospect, this looks quite ordinary because it was at least optical implementation of the normal process.
Now you have the administration pushed an even more radical agenda to de -regulate, and so far they have been distributing the usual process. So you have Declaration of Emergency EnergyAnd this becomes a reason for making decisions without complying with the usual resolution process. You have a new message that Adjustable branches can apply for a release from the president This would release them from obligations to fulfill the requirements. Now, note that this will extend to even the Biden administration rules that the Supreme Court refused to remain. This is the final run around the rules that are in books today.
So did the EarthJustice Strategy also change?
He has. When I imagined what our first cases would be, I imagined that we would fight the efforts to stay on the rescue rules, that we would fight for efforts to stop the commitments in the federal court. And this is definitely going on. But I wouldn’t imagine we would work around the clock Call the Financing Starting for Farmers Either that we would immediately refuse Efforts of Trump administration by blocking pricing on the congestion in New York.
I believe that in court there are remedies for what is happening.
What if the courts find in your favor, but the administration does not comply with its decision? Is that what keeps you at night?
I am very worried about losing the rule of law in this country.
Are you sleeping well?
No.
Do you think the aiming of environmentalists reaches or seeks to achieve?
The Trump administration is very significantly launched in fossil fuels. Was widely reported that the president promised to give numerous services in the industry, asking for their financial support. And the president fulfills these promises, aiming at the climatic policy and the group that successfully advocated them. I think the game has something more that is that climatic solutions will bring significant changes in our economy, and the president chooses to include powerful current industries and prevents fair competition in the country. And one of them publicly justification for this approach is to silence groups that effectively raise the reality of climate change and the urgent need to resolve it.
Are you afraid that this country is becoming a dangerous place for people engaged in environmental work?
I hope we do not become one of these countries with every fiber. But do I see it as much as possible? Absolutely.
