In 2018, under President Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled back key clean water protections that had been in place since the Obama administration. The change, which significantly weakened the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, was one of the administration’s most controversial environmental actions. It limited federal protections for wetlands and smaller streams, claiming that the rule was too burdensome for farmers and businesses. Trump framed the rollback as a victory for economic growth, particularly in rural areas.

However, environmental advocates and public health experts strongly opposed the decision, arguing that it put the drinking water of millions of Americans at risk. The WOTUS rule had been designed to protect not just major waterways but also smaller streams, wetlands, and tributaries that serve as vital ecosystems for wildlife and play an essential role in water filtration.

The rollback would have opened up these water sources to pollution and development without stringent oversight, undermining decades of environmental protection. The Trump administration’s rationale was that the rule had expanded federal power over state and local waters, thereby stifling economic development.

Yet, the public backlash was swift and fierce. Multiple states, including California and New York, filed lawsuits against the EPA, arguing that the rollback violated the Clean Water Act. Environmental groups, too, joined in the legal battle, calling the move a direct threat to public health and the environment.

In response to these challenges, the rollback was slowed, and the issue was sent back into the courts. Many legal experts argued that the Trump administration’s actions were politically motivated, with an eye on appeasing the fossil fuel and agricultural industries, rather than safeguarding public resources.

As a result, the battle over clean water protections became one of the most enduring legal and political fights of Trump’s presidency. The rollback did not go unchallenged, and while some of the changes ultimately held, many of the more extreme provisions were tied up in court battles for years.

The pushback from both legal authorities and states demonstrated that, despite the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to deregulation, the battle for environmental protections would continue to be fiercely contested.

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