W.W.L.D. – What Would the Lorax Do?

• Dr. Karen I. Shragg
• May 21, 2025
• Forum Papers
• Forum Paper
• 0 Comments

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 The Dismantling of Environmental Protections Under Trump 2.0

An NPG Forum Paper
by Dr. Karen I. Shragg
May 2025

ABSTRACT:
This paper examines the impact of the implementation of Trump 2.0 (his second term) on the environment. While all things environmental were already alarming both globally and nationally, when it comes to species loss, climate change, pollution and more, our nation is headed for an even greater disaster. When Donald Trump took office on January 20th he solemnly swore to faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States and uphold the Constitution. He quickly implemented Project 2025, causing widespread dire and immediate consequences to our (now) unprotected natural resources.

OUR CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS

The news is alarming. Programs with great track records of helping people are on the chopping block. Meals on Wheels has helped the elderly and shut-ins get nutritious meals for 70 years and it’s being slashed. Habitat for Humanity helps low-income people move into well-made homes, but under the smoke and mirrors of “saving Federal tax dollars,” is also facing the axe. There are many supporters up in arms about wiping out these critical programs, and rightly so.

When I saw the title Habitat for Humanity it made me think: “What about habitat for wildlife? What is happening to the habitat needed by the 1,300 plants and animals on the endangered and threatened species list, now that the hatchet is coming down on so many jobs in the Forest Service and Park Service?”

The US has 63 national parks, encompassing 52.4 million acres. The National Park Service manages over 85 million acres which includes monuments, seashores, memorials, historic sites, historic parks, recreation areas, parkways and battlefields as well.

These national treasures cannot exist without the help of personnel trained to manage the delicate balance between human recreational demand and protecting the resources they came to see. Our national park system is a destination for many family vacationers. The park rangers provide interpretation of the area’s unique geology, botany and mammalogy. My parents treated us to the beauty of Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park back in 1966 when yearly park visitation was 2.3 million. Perhaps the seeds of my own career as a naturalist were planted when my 12-year-old eyes witnessed my mother feed a sweet roll to a huge grizzly as it approached her car window. Now that visitation has doubled to 4.5 million Yellowstone needs more personnel, not less.

National parks are places which provide outdoor adventures like rock climbing and river rafting. Cultural and historical places provide hands-on experiences to teach unforgettable and essential parts of American culture. Our national park personnel are charged with the overwhelming tasks of not just managing usage issues but also deciding how to decrease invasive species and plan for native ones to return to the landscape. They do all of this with the threat of increased usage and the negative effects of climate change… Continue reading the full Forum paper by clicking here.

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