Sat May 10 05:56:15 UTC 2025: ## Fifteen US States Sue Trump Over “National Energy Emergency” Declaration

**Seattle, WA – May 10, 2025** – A coalition of fifteen US states has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring a “national energy emergency” and fast-tracking energy projects. The lawsuit, filed in Washington State, alleges that the administration is circumventing environmental protection laws, jeopardizing endangered species, and disregarding critical habitats and cultural resources.

The executive order, issued on President Trump’s first day in office, utilizes eminent domain and the Defence Production Act to expedite oil and gas expansion. The states argue that these measures, typically reserved for genuine emergencies like natural disasters, are being misused to bypass standard environmental reviews mandated by laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Attorneys General Nick Brown (Washington) and Rob Bonta (California) lead the charge, joined by their counterparts from Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. They contend that while affordable energy is vital, current US energy production is already at an all-time high, rendering the “emergency” declaration unnecessary.

The White House, however, defends the order, stating that President Trump recognizes the crucial role of American energy in both economic and national security. A White House spokesperson asserted that the President has the authority to define a national emergency.

The lawsuit seeks a court order to declare the executive order unlawful and prevent federal agencies from utilizing emergency permitting for projects not deemed genuine emergencies. The states emphasize that the expedited process infringes upon their rights to protect water quality and other resources within their borders, as granted by the Clean Water Act. The legal battle promises to be a significant test of the balance between energy development and environmental protection in the United States.

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