Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, the Trump administration issued an executive order that directly targets the New York Climate Superfund Act, a broadly popular state law that requires the largest fossil fuel companies to pay their fair share for the damages caused by climate change. The order calls on the Department of Justice to go after states that have passed similar laws and use the power of the federal government to prevent their implementation.

In response, Laura Shindell, New York State Director at Food & Water Watch, issued the following statement:

“This absurd executive order is Trump’s latest attempt to strip states of their rights to protect their own air, water and climate, while forcing his pro-pollution, pro-fossil fuel agenda on every American.

“These efforts will fail. The New York Climate Superfund Act is settled law, whether he and fossil fuel executives like it or not. The law ensures that the increasing costs of extreme weather don’t fall on everyday taxpayers, and instead are footed by the corporations responsible for climate-fueled storms. Trump’s executive order is a desperate, last-gasp move from those facing real accountability for the first time.

“Food & Water Watch will monitor closely how the administration may seek to implement this order, and we will pursue any and all legal avenues to help ensure that New Yorkers are not harmed by this shameful assault on public health, environmental protection and climate stability.”