A federal agency charged with pipeline safety has opened fewer cases under the Trump Administration than under any administration over the last 20 years.
Bloomberg reported last week that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) opened 40 enforcement cases between January 20 and the end of June – 68 percent fewer than even during Trump’s first months in office eight years ago.
The drop in enforcement comes as the administration works to promote fossil fuels, including rolling back regulations meant to prevent chemical disasters and air pollution. Several senior PHMSA officials also left the agency earlier this year as part of the administration’s push to shrink the federal government, according to Bloomberg.