Inauguration update: A message from our executive director

As the Trump administration prepares to return to the White House on Monday, I find myself reflecting on a powerful lesson learned from two decades of working alongside communities across the South as an environmental lawyer: no challenge, no matter how daunting, is insurmountable when we stand together.

The incoming administration has pledged a full-scale assault on our bedrock environmental protections. In the coming days we expect to see attacks on federal climate progress, funding cuts to environmental justice programs, giveaways to the oil and gas industry, and new threats to our public lands and wildlife — policies that would harm us all.

But here’s the truth: No one voted for dirty air and water.

Southerners strongly support the commonsense environmental protections this administration has pledged to dismantle. The election was not a mandate to contaminate our water with forever chemicals, pollute our air with hazardous emissions, or trade away our public lands to the highest bidders.

We will stand alongside communities to stop damaging federal actions, just as we do with all administrations that threaten our environment. And we’ll use our place-based expertise to make environmental progress at the local and state level, which is more important than ever as federal environmental leadership falters.

With nearly four decades of experience and 130 legal and policy experts, we’re ready to work hand-in-hand with our local partners and the people across the South — in the courtroom, halls of government, and our communities.

Together, we can stop harmful policies, defend climate progress, and protect the wild places and wildlife we all love for future generations.

Join us in this fight by making a donation today.