Amongst a slew of executive orders signed during his first week in office, President Donald Trump officially eliminated a team of White House advisors whose role included ensuring that the federal government provides assistance to communities near ports, roadways and heavy industry.
Known as the “Justice40” initiative, the Biden administration created the team to help a majority of BIPOC communities by mandating that 40% of benefits from specific environmental programs go towards communities most affected.
Under the new administration, funds are expected to be halted for the climate law and other climate programs. Clinton-era policies were also removed which had previously addressed environmental health problems amongst BIPOC and low-income communities.
For decades, Black communities in the U.S. have been hit the hardest by industrial companies. Per a report by Northern Illinois University, Black Americans are exposed to soot pollution from fossil fuels 1.5 times more than white Americans.
In large cities like Philadelphia, where Black Americans make up 44% of the population, officials from the American Lung Association have already put out risk warnings for residents, letting them know that just breathing the air may put their health at risk.
With disparities in environmental help for those affected by pollution already existing, Black Americans are more likely to have fatal effects from air pollution, passing away from related adverse health effects at higher rates.
Per a 2024 study by Stanford researchers, in almost 97% of counties across the nation, Black Americans had the highest death rate from PM2.5, a pollutant that penetrates the bloodstream to affect organs and causes illnesses such as asthma, heart attacks, emphysema and bronchitis.
Although work to address the racial disparities amongst communities most affected by pollution is ongoing, the Biden administration did effectively help regulate pollution standards amid new sets of public health rules. In December, the EPA also announced that they concluded over 1,850 civil cases- up by 3.4% in 2023- and helped eliminate 225 million pounds of pollution from neighborhoods most affected. Approximately $1.7 billion in fines were also given out.
However, with the Trump administration’s latest decision, grassroots organizations expect less federal support.
“They were finally beginning to get support at the EPA and at the White House,” said co-founder of WE ACT, Peggy Shepard, per AP News, “and this is a big step back for the communities who are front line to some of these issues.”
Alongside the Climate Justice Alliance, prominent Black-led environmental organizations include the Black Millenials for Flint, the NAACP Center for Environmental & Climate Justice and the National Black Environmental Justice Network.
