The Conservative Activists Behind One of Trump’s Biggest Climate Moves

President Trump campaigned on climate denial and promised to reverse federal policies aimed at protecting the planet. Experts have been stunned by the magnitude of the environmental protections his administration has unraveled and by the speed of its actions. That rapid dismantling was set in motion by a cadre of conservative lawyers from the first Trump administration who spent years honing arguments to block government regulation of climate pollution.

Four figures emerged as key strategists: Russell T. Vought and Jeffrey B. Clark drafted executive orders, while Mandy Gunasekara and Jonathan Brightbill assembled what they called an 'arsenal of information' to undermine the scientific and legal consensus that the planet is dangerously warming.

Both independently and together, they spent the Biden years charting roadmaps a future Republican president could use, including Project 2025. Their most consequential victory is imminent.

United States

trump, climate denial, environmental protections, conservative lawyers, russell vought, jeffrey clark, mandy gunasekara, jonathan brightbill, project 2025, executive orders