President Donald Trump is seeking to claim the mantle of environmental steward as he announces an expansion of a ban on offshore drilling and highlights conservation projects in Florida.
But his administration has overturned or weakened numerous regulations meant to protect air and water quality and lands essential for imperiled species.
During a speech at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, Trump said he's extending a moratorium, banning offshore oil drilling along Florida's gulf coast, as well as the east coast, along with South Carolina and Georgia.
"With fracking, the shale revolution, and the tremendous surge in American energy production, we're showing that we can create jobs, safeguard the environment, and keep energy prices low for America and low for our citizens."
The existing moratorium covers the Gulf of Mexico. Trump says the new ban also covers the Atlantic coast — a significant political concern in coastal states like Florida.
The president touted other energy and environmental policies.
But according to the 2021 budget, the Trump administration cut $2.4 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency. The administration eliminated over 50 programs, many of which oversee industry pollution.
Representative Lois Frankel said during a Democratic response to the speech that the cuts have had a negative impact on the environment.
"For the fourth year in a row, Trump proposed to slashed the budget of the EPA that protects our clean, water and air and energy and interior departments, prioritizing corporate polluters over climate crisis and public health," she said.
The Democratic-controlled house passed the budget months ago.
WLRN reporter Wilkine Brutus contributed to this report.
