EPA Climate Change Website Removed

On April 28, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removed its climate change website and posted a message indicating that the site is being updated “to reflect EPA’s priorities under the leadership of President Trump and Administrator Pruitt.” The site included various pages relating to EPA’s collection of climate change data and efforts to mitigate climate change. An archived version of the pages, as they existed on January 19, 2017, remains available.

Update: 

On February 27, 2018, members of the House of Representatives Safe Climate Caucus wrote to President Trump to protest the removal of climate change information from EPA and other agency websites. The Caucus members expressed “concern” that the removals “fundamentally interfere with the American public’s ability to access reliable information” about climate change and thus may “violate the intent of the Federal Records Act.”

EPA's climate change website remained unavailable for the duration of President Trump's term. The message indicating that the site is being updated was removed and replaced with a page stating: “We want to help you find what you are looking for.” The page included links to search other areas of the EPA website. It also included a link to the archived version of the climate change website (as it existed in January 2017).

Biden Administration Response: 

On March 18, 2021, the EPA relaunched the climate change website. In a statement published by EPA, Administrator Michael Regan said: "Climate facts are back on EPA's website where they should be. Considering the urgency of this crisis, it is critical that Americans have access to information and resources so that we can all play a role in protecting our environment, our health, and vulnerable communities. Trustworthy, science-based information is at the foundation of strong, achievable solutions."