Attorney General Dan Rayfield has initiated a lawsuit, joined by 14 other states, to contest President Donald Trump's declaration of a "national energy emergency." The suit challenges the president's actions as prioritizing the interests of large oil companies over environmental and public health protections.
On his inauguration day, President Trump declared the emergency under the National Emergencies Act. This act was originally intended to prevent presidents from using emergency powers for non-urgent or politically motivated reasons. Critics argue that Trump's use of this power circumvents essential reviews mandated by environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
Rayfield expressed concerns about the implications for Oregon communities, stating: “This order deliberately cuts out clean energy projects and puts our communities in Oregon in the dark about the risks to their health, their homes, and their environment.” He emphasized potential threats to drinking water quality and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.
Despite high levels of U.S. energy production, there are no plans from energy companies to increase output following Trump's order. Meanwhile, efforts to boost exports may lead to higher prices domestically according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
The lawsuit argues that Trump is misusing emergency powers to favor fossil fuels while excluding renewable sources like wind and solar. Historically, federal agencies have reserved emergency procedures for genuine crises such as hurricanes or significant oil spills like Deepwater Horizon.
Filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the lawsuit names President Trump alongside officials from key federal agencies involved in implementing his directive. The attorneys general seek a court ruling declaring these actions illegal and preventing further issuance of permits under this executive order.
The coalition joining Rayfield includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.