Washington, D.C. (February 10, 2025)—In response to President Trump’s plan to revoke the Biden Administration’s directive to phase out plastic straw use across the federal government, Lisa Ramsden, Greenpeace USA’s senior plastics campaigner said: “Donald Trump’s Executive Order on plastic straws is a distraction from his administration’s efforts to prevent the EPA, the FDA and the NIH from protecting Americans from microplastics and dangerous chemicals. Once again, President Trump is pretending to be a populist while siding with his Big Oil buddies over the public interest. The majority of Americans – Democrats and Republicans – want action to cut plastic pollution and protect our health.
“Plastics contain more than 16,000 chemicals, with over 3,200 known to cause cancer, disrupt hormones, contribute to obesity, or trigger early puberty in children. These chemicals have also been linked to reproductive health problems and declining fertility. So while the administration feigns concerns for Americans’ health and the declining birth rate, policies like this are exacerbating a public health crisis that drains over $250 billion from our economy annually.”
Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.
