By Molly Claire Goddard
10:03am PDT, Jul 14, 2025
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Climate change activists are claiming Democrats are backtracking on their conservation efforts. According to a
report, several people within the movement allege Governor
Gavin Newsom and politicians on the left have rolled back environmental laws since
Donald Trump returned to the White House for his second term.
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According to activists, Democratic politicians are dropping the ball on continuing climate change efforts. With Donald Trump back in office, a California Energy Commission official tried to get Gavin Newsom to halt his 2023 initiative to place a cap on excessive oil company profits. "It's one of the more disappointing turnabouts," Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court said. "We have backed down and we may not be flying a white handkerchief, but it's pretty close to white." Deputy Policy Director for the Coalition for Clean Air Chris Chavez noted, "California was the vocal climate leader during the first Trump administration. … It's questionable whether or not that leadership is still there."
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In another blow to climate change activists, Gavin Newsom signed into law two housing bills that would exempt multiple construction projects — such as urban housing and health clinics — from environmental review. "This is part of the Democrats' doing some soul-searching and really trying to figure out what they stand for," environmental adviser Marie Liu claimed, while also pointing out how politicians on the left were too concerned with "short-term" responses rather than the long-term effects.
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Despite the allegations, Gavin Newsom's Deputy Director of Communications, Daniel Villaseñor, slammed the claim that environmental protections weren't at the top of the list of the governor's concerns for California. "This Governor has done more to combat climate change than any Governor before him," the representative made clear. In June, Newsom filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and his administration over its efforts to take away California's Clean Air Act waivers.
