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Second federal judge orders temporary reinstatement of thousands of probationary employees fired by the Trump administration; U.S., Canada political tension could affect Maine summer tourism; Report: Incarceration rates rise in MS, U.S. despite efforts at reform; MI study: HBCU students show better mental health, despite challenges.

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Trump administration faces legal battles on birthright citizenship; the arrest of a Palestinian activist sparks protests over free speech. Conservationists voice concerns about federal job cuts impacting public lands, and Ohio invests in child wellness initiatives.

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Farmers worry promised federal reimbursements aren't coming while fears mount that the Trump administration's efforts to raise cash means the sale of public lands, and rural America's shortage of doctors has many physicians skipping retirement.

Environmental groups challenge offshore protection rollbacks in AL, U.S.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2025   

Environmental groups are suing to stop plans to expand offshore drilling across 625 million acres of federal waters.

Advocates argue President Donald Trump overstepped his authority when he attempted to revoke protections for the waters, putting marine life, coastal communities and the environment at risk.

Christian Wagley, coastal organizer for the advocacy coalition Healthy Gulf, warned of the long-term consequences in Alabama and beyond.

"We are in a climate emergency and we have national goals for reining in the burning of fossil fuels and transitioning to clean energy," Wagley pointed out. "We also know that oil and gas drilling is a direct threat to coastal environments."

At the same time, other groups are asking the courts to reinstate a ruling blocking Trump's initial attempt to reverse Obama-era offshore protections. In 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision permanently protecting 128 million acres of Arctic and Atlantic waters from drilling. A federal court had previously ruled Trump overstepped his authority in trying to reverse protections.

Devorah Ancel, Environmental Law Program senior attorney for the Sierra Club, said their lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Alaska, challenges Trump's order on the grounds it violates federal law. She explained while former President Joe Biden reinforced protections in the Eastern Gulf, Atlantic, Pacific and Alaska coasts under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, it does not grant presidents the authority to undo protections put in place by their predecessors.

"The law does not provide the power to the president to revoke those authorizations," Ancel emphasized. "We are challenging that based on statutory grounds as well as constitutional grounds. The president has violated the property clause of the Constitution, which gives Congress the exclusive authority."

Ancel also pushed back on claims the protections would hurt energy security, noting 99% of the Gulf of Mexico remains open for drilling, allowing for continued energy production while safeguarding critical habitats.

Disclosure: The Sierra Club contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environment, and Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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