Is It About Policy or Power? President Trump’s Latest Environmental Orders
Plastic straws are the new norm? Again? Photo by Lindsey Clinton '27
I didn’t think President Donald Trump could surprise me anymore, but two of his most recent actions have my jaw on the floor.
From controversial policies to endless inflammatory statements, President Trump’s return to office has been marred by a consistent level of anomalous behavior. It’s hard to believe that, in 2025, the presidential administration is reversing policies that make urban life more sustainable, like banning paper straws and removing bike lanes.
New York City has been a leader in creating safe spaces for cyclists, a decision that has improved transportation, decreased congestion and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2014, more than 479 miles of bicycle lanes have been built, 180 miles of which are protected bike lanes.
But the progress made is coming to a halt. President Trump has announced that he will work to eliminate bike lanes due to their effects on road congestion and the harm they cause to pedestrians.
“They’re dangerous,” President Trump said in an interview. “These bikes go at 20 miles an hour. They’re whacking people.”
He claims that bike lanes pose a serious safety threat to individuals, opposing the broader data proving their benefits: by adding safe and separated bike lanes on highly congested streets, the risk of cyclist injuries is reduced by 60 percent.
In a time when cities across the world are working to make their communities safer, more efficient and more sustainable, putting a target on NYC bike lanes seems like a manufactured controversy rather than a legitimate policy issue.
“I think that Trump’s movement to remove bike lanes doesn’t make sense in any universe,” said Ella DeSane ‘27, a Marist University sophomore. “It completely undermines efforts to promote sustainable options. I think that he’s attacking sustainable changes because he can, and he knows the reaction he is going to get.”
In yet another mind-boggling policy change, President Trump signed an executive order for the government’s exclusive use of plastic straws.
The administration dismisses the previous switch to paper straws as an “irrational campaign,” claiming that the previous ban exemplified excessive governmental regulations. Critics view the executive order as a blatant disregard for environmental concerns.
“Anyone who has used paper straws knows that, yes, they can be a little annoying, but they still work, and I’m willing to use a paper straw if it means I am limiting how much I am contributing to polluting the oceans and environment,” DeSane said.
As President Trump solidified this federal change, he said, “It’s a ridiculous situation. We’re going back to plastic straws.”
DeSane added, “I just think it’s comical that, because he dislikes paper straws, everyone has to dislike them. Instead of just making the choice to use plastic straws himself, he’s making it everyone else’s problem.”
But the bike lanes and paper straws are just the beginning. These environmental decisions from the Trump administration signal a broader setback for sustainability efforts.
“This administration is gutting environmental protections, and they’re actively choosing to prioritize fossil fuels over the future of our planet,” DeSane said, her expression filled with hopelessness.
Getting rid of paper straws and bike lanes in NYC symbolizes a federal-level rejection of sustainable efforts. By rolling back these efforts made to reduce our everyday carbon footprint, President Trump’s administration reinforces a narrative that downplays the literal Earth-shattering effects of climate change.
We find ourselves in a historical period in which the actions of each individual have the potential to trigger substantial changes in climate action. These simple, yet impactful actions are known as “tipping points.”
Using paper straws instead of plastic is a tipping point in reducing carbon emissions. Biking to work instead of driving is a tipping point in reducing carbon emissions. Yet, the current administration sees these mechanisms against climate change as an inconvenience to their daily routines rather than a step toward a greener earth.
“It’s heartbreaking to know that the Trump administration is actively choosing to leave the world worse than they found it,” DeSane said. “They are creating a bigger mess for younger generations to clean up.”
The idea of removing bike lanes from New York City and paper straws from federal agencies may seem trivial, but it appears to be more of a deliberate effort to dismantle environmental efforts. To the Trump administration, protecting the planet seems less important than political theater.
“He’s not a politician; he’s a producer, and he’s capitalizing on everyone's reactions to his ‘movements,’” DeSane concluded.