Overview
- President Trump signed the order Wednesday, formally rescinding Executive Order 13508 that organized federal Chesapeake Bay restoration for 17 years.
- The new directive tells Cabinet agencies to shift fiscal and personnel resources toward projects that produce measurable reductions in sediment and nutrient runoff.
- The EPA is ordered to evaluate the financial burden of local stormwater management fees, explore lower-cost alternatives, and encourage jurisdictions to repeal or rescind those fees.
- Environmental groups and Maryland officials warned the revocation weakens federal coordination and accountability, while the Chesapeake Bay Foundation noted stormwater fees are set locally and cannot be directly eliminated by the federal order.
- The White House cites 2025 pollution-reduction milestones and says the EPA cut administrative overhead and increased direct funding in FY2026, but the order must be carried out consistent with law and available appropriations, leaving legal and implementation questions about its practical effects.