Change the Chamber Statement on President Trump’s Joint Address to the U.S. Congress
By Camille Rohde and Evey Mengelkoch, March 5, 2025
Change the Chamber strongly condemns the administration’s blatant assault on clean energy, environmental justice, and critical climate investments—actions that threaten to set our country on a dangerous path.
“Yesterday evening, President Donald J. Trump delivered a Joint Address to Congress, outlining his administration’s policy priorities and vision for the country. Change the Chamber strongly condemns the administration’s blatant assault on clean energy, environmental justice, and critical climate investments—actions that threaten to set our country on a dangerous path. As a coalition of young adults and student groups fighting for a sustainable future, we recognize that a stable, livable climate is not just a priority; it’s a necessity. The Trump Administration’s approach to environmental and energy policy jeopardizes the well-being of current and future generations, undermining our progress toward a cleaner and more resilient future.
The administration’s declaration of a “national energy emergency,” and pursuit of a nationwide “drill, baby drill” initiative only serves to strip investments in renewable energy, raise energy costs, unleash more pollution from fossil fuels, and worsen climate disasters. The true energy emergency is the climate crisis, which should catalyze efforts to bolster renewable energy and grid resilience, not diminish it. The administration’s energy policies are beholden to the fossil fuel industry, unfairly playing favorites to the detriment of everyday Americans. These policies squander the benefits of the clean energy economy, green jobs, and lower energy costs that benefit all Americans.
Climate change is fundamentally a public health crisis, and the recently proposed budget cuts threaten to worsen its impacts on public health by reducing access to healthcare, clean energy, safe water, and nutritious food. Rising tariffs and inflation further strain American families, making essential goods and services even harder to afford. The assertion made during last night’s address that the administration's priority is to “get the toxins out of the environment and the poison out of the food supply” is misleading. Achieving this goal requires strengthening—not dismantling—the policies that protect Americans from harmful pollutants. America cannot be made healthy by eliminating critical programs that safeguard our children, food, air, and water.
Beyond these attacks, the Trump Administration is actively undermining the very institutions responsible for protecting our environment. Cuts to the federal workforce at the National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—among other agencies—are weakening our ability to safeguard public lands, enforce pollution standards, and advance climate science. These agencies play a crucial role in disaster preparedness, conservation, and protecting the public; gutting them is an attack on our country’s ability to respond to the climate crisis. The American people deserve transparency and leadership, not censorship and denial.
As the Trump administration continues to push policies that endanger our climate and the well-being of the American people, Change the Chamber remains committed to mobilizing the next generation to advocate for science-based, climate-forward solutions. We will continue to highlight the real-world impacts of federal policy decisions, share opportunities for public engagement, and work alongside bipartisan allies in Congress to advance policies that accelerate the clean energy transition, protect frontline communities, and create a sustainable future for all Americans.”
Camille Rohde and Evey Mengelkoch, National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber
Change The Chamber is a nonpartisan coalition of young adults, 100+ student groups across the country, environmental justice and frontline community groups, and other allied organizations.