A coalition of 15 U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s executive order that declares a “national energy emergency” to accelerate fossil fuel development. Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown announced the legal action on Friday during a press briefing.
The 61-page complaint, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, argues that the order violates the National Emergencies Act of 1976. The Act stipulates that emergency powers should be used “only when actual emergencies exist” and not for “frivolous or partisan matters.”
“This is not a serious or lawful effort by the president. It is all about eliminating competition and shackling America to dirty fossil fuels forever,” Brown stated at a news conference in Seattle. He criticized the emergency declaration as “fake,” pointing out that U.S. energy production is already at an all-time high.
President Trump issued the executive order earlier this year, promoting the expansion of oil, gas, coal, and other fossil fuel sources while excluding wind, solar, and battery-based energy initiatives. The order claims that the “inadequate development of domestic energy resources” poses a threat to national security and prosperity.
Since the order, federal agencies have begun bypassing or reducing environmental review requirements under laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, the lawsuit alleges.
The coalition seeks a court ruling to invalidate the executive order and prevent federal agencies from issuing fast-tracked permits based on it. The states joining the suit include California, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
“We won’t stand by as the federal government recklessly endangers our environment and ignores the rule of law,” Brown added.
