The Trump administration has halted all pending environmental litigation and reassigned four senior Justice Department attorneys specializing in environmental issues, according to sources and memos reviewed by Reuters. The directive also suspends new lawsuits, settlements, and legal briefs to allow the administration to review existing agreements, ensuring "one voice" on legal matters.
The affected attorneys, previously overseeing natural resources, environmental enforcement, appellate, and environmental crimes, were reassigned to a newly created Sanctuary City Working Group. An email sent late Thursday gave them 15 days to accept the new roles or face consequences.
The Environment and Natural Resources Division, responsible for cases involving pollution, animal welfare, and public safety, has been impacted by these changes, reflecting the administration's broader shake-up of the federal workforce.
Additionally, four Justice Department employees focused on environmental justice, including Cynthia Ferguson, who led the office, and Lana Pettus, a Clean Water Act prosecutor, were placed on administrative leave. The administration has also mandated the removal of roles related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice.
This follows Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and his dismissal of climate change as a “hoax.” A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on these developments.
The freeze on environmental regulation aligns with similar directives issued to other DOJ divisions, including the Civil Rights Division, which suspended litigation on police abuse settlements in Minneapolis and Louisville.
These actions underscore the administration’s intent to reshape federal priorities on environmental and civil rights issues.