A new report shows how environmental information has been deleted since President Donald Trump was inaugurated, but local activists refuse to let the changes impact how they operate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith every stroke of the pen and deletion, Trump can try to eliminate environmental and climate justice from his administration, but he won\u2019t erase our communities,\u201d Ashley Williams, executive director of Just Transition Northwest Indiana, said in a statement. \u201cWe are a testament that the fight will continue because everyone should have access to a clean, healthy environment and a better quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative released a 55-page report detailing how the Trump administration has altered the availability of environmental information in the last six months.<\/p>\n
Information about environmental justice and climate change have disappeared from federal websites, according to the organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pace and severity of this administration\u2019s attacks on environmental information in its first six months have been far worse than in the first Trump administration,\u201d Izzy Pacenza, lead author of the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative study, said in a news release.<\/p>\n
The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative\u2019s website governance team monitored more than 4,000 federal environmental pages to find changes for the report. According to its data, the organization found 70% more website changes in Trump\u2019s first 100 days in office in 2025 compared to during his first term in 2017.<\/p>\n
The organization is monitoring 20% of the webpages it tracked for changes during the first Trump administration.<\/p>\n
Information about climate change has been altered and removed, including from the U.S. Global Change Research Program website and informational resources from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website.<\/p>\n
Climate change information remains \u201cvirtually unaltered\u201d on the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s website, according to the report.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s changes to public information are part of a broader agenda to reshape the form and function of the federal government,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n
Changes relating to environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion have been made most frequently, according to the report. Information about environmental racism has been \u201centirely excised\u201d from federal websites, according to the report.<\/p>\n
Environmental racism is the intentional pollution and waste facilities in communities primarily made up of people of color, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Those communities are disproportionately exposed to fumes, toxic dust, ash, soot and other pollutants, according to the NRDC. Gary was one of the communities visited by EPA officials in 2022 due to its history of heavy industry and proximity to five Superfund sites. At the time, residents were encouraged to keep tabs on environmental data.<\/p>\n
Removing language about environmental racism denies facts and generates misinformation, as well as undermines the collective ability to address issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrustworthy information is critical for a functioning democracy,\u201d Gretchen Gehrke, study lead author, said in a news release. \u201cThese removals reflect a broad deregulatory agenda by this administration to disavow the intersecting issues of environmental justice and climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carolyn McCrady, member of Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, responded to the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative Study\u2019s findings, calling federal cuts relentless, ruthless and lawless, especially for communities of color.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile (they are) depriving organizations, cities and states of the funds needed to repair environmental damage, they are also destroying the laws that provided protection since the inception of the EPA,\u201d McCrady said in a text. \u201cBut the assault will only strengthen the resolve of people to fight to protect and preserve the very foundation of life in these targeted communities. No one is giving up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, in Indiana, Gov. Mike Braun signed two executive orders that target the environment, including one to make state regulations consistent with national ones and one prohibiting the use of the phrase \u201cenvironmental justice\u201d in permitting, enforcement and grant decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026the concept of \u2018environmental justice\u2019 has become increasingly politicized and has often led to the introduction of subjective, non-scientific factors into environmental policy and regulation\u2026\u201d according to one executive order.<\/p>\n
Northwest Indiana activists previously told the Post-Tribune that Braun\u2019s executive orders were concerning, and targeting environmental justice would be harmful for the public health and wellbeing of region communities.<\/p>\n
In July, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a plan to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding at an Indianapolis auto dealership, which Braun and other Indiana officials supported in person. The 2009 Endangerment Finding found six greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare of current and future generations.<\/p>\n
The American Lung Association announced in April that Hoosiers are breathing some of the nation\u2019s most polluted air in its \u201cState of the Air\u201d report. The Indianapolis metro area ranked at the 54th worst in the nation for ozone pollution and 21st worst for particle pollution.<\/p>\n
In Northwest Indiana, the American Lung Association gave Lake County failing grades in three categories: ozone pollution, 24-hour particle pollution and annual particle pollution. Porter County only received a passing grade for annual particle pollution.<\/p>\n
Ozone and particle pollution can cause premature death and other health effects, including asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, preterm birth and impaired cognitive function, according to the American Lung Association. The organization also found particle pollution can cause lung cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndiana ranks as the worst state for pollution,\u201d Williams said. \u201cNorthwest Indiana is the epicenter of these emissions. This reality is getting worse with each rollback, each attack on those most vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n