Project 2025: The 2025 Presidential Transition Project: on Environment

Barack Obama: OpEd: expanded EPA's role beyond enviro regulation

During the Obama Administration, EPA experienced massive growth as it was used to pursue far-reaching political goals to the point where its current activities and staffing levels far exceeded its congressional mandates and purpose. This expansive status is entirely unnecessary: It has nothing to do with improving either the environment or public health. The EPA's initial success was driven by clear mandates, a streamlined structure, recognition of the states' prominent role, and built-in accountability. Fulfilling the agency's mission in a manner consistent with a limited-government approach proved to be extremely effective during the agency's infancy.

Heritage Foundation: EPA is environmental regulator: no land use policy

The EPA has long been amenable to being coopted by the Left for political ends against the need to implement the agency's true function: protecting public health and the environment in cooperation with states. Further, the EPA needs to be realigned away from attempts to make it an all-powerful energy and land use policymaker and returned to its congressionally sanctioned role as environmental regulator.