On June 12, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to revoke the Biden Administration’s initiative aimed at promoting the health of fish populations in the Columbia River Basin. The memorandum rescinds previous executive actions that prioritized climate change considerations and directs federal agencies to withdraw from agreements that imposed significant financial and operational requirements on energy resources. This action seeks to enhance American energy infrastructure and reduce costs for consumers while also addressing wildlife conservation needs.

The memorandum highlights potential consequences of the prior administration’s policies, including adverse impacts on agriculture, shipping channels, and energy costs due to proposed dam breaches. These breaches could have resulted in a loss of over 3,000 megawatts of hydroelectric capacity, equating to the energy needs of approximately 2.5 million homes. President Trump asserts that his approach aims to balance environmental quality with economic growth, focusing on protecting American livelihoods by prioritizing energy production.

Additionally, President Trump has announced measures to support the coal industry and declared a National Energy Emergency to enhance domestic energy production. The administration’s strategy includes reversing regulations that hinder energy development, particularly in regions like Alaska, to facilitate greater resource utilization and job creation. Overall, this memorandum reflects the administration’s commitment to what it describes as American energy dominance while striving to uphold wildlife welfare and environmental integrity.

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