Trump Administration Revokes 2009 Chesapeake Bay Restoration Order

President Donald Trump issued an executive order that rescinds the Obama Administration's 2009 order regarding Chesapeake Bay restoration (Executive Order 13508). The order, which required states and municipalities to contribute to the Bay's health, was revoked on the grounds that it allowed for unnecessary taxes or financial burdens, such as 'rain taxes'. The new order directs federal agencies to assess stormwater fees and encourages coordination with the Chesapeake Bay watershed jurisdictions.

The executive order shifts federal resources toward projects that demonstrate measurable progress toward the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. This move impacts the long-standing framework for how the Bay's health was managed and funded since 2009. The order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate the financial burdens placed on residents in the affected jurisdictions.