On December 18, 2024, the GW Engineering-based Environmental and Energy Management Institute (EEMI) conducted a webinar entitled “Navigating the Trump 2 Deregulatory Agenda: Lessons from Environmental Officials in Trump 1.”
The very large attendance reflected a great interest in the topic. Interest was even larger than the 857 registered participants since some organizational registrants (including the Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado Public Health Department, and Leaders in Energy) attended with groups of ten or more.
The event featured the following EEMI leaders, all of whom are former senior federal government officials:
- Dr. Teresa Pohlman, a GW Engineering doctoral graduate who retired recently as the Director of Sustainability and Environmental Programs at the Department of Homeland Security, where she led efforts to integrate sustainability and environmental compliance into DHS operations. With a career spanning decades in federal service, Teresa previously held key roles in environmental management and policy, including overseeing safety and environmental initiatives at multiple federal agencies. She is now a key EEMI leader and an Adjunct Professor in GW Engineering.
- Mark Pollins, a former long-time Director of the Water Enforcement Division at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he led efforts to enforce the Clean Water Act and ensure compliance with critical environmental regulations. Throughout his career, Mark was instrumental in addressing significant challenges, such as water quality enforcement and public health crises. He is now the EEMI Director of Food and Water.
- Alex Beehler, who served as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment during the first Trump administration, where he focused on enhancing energy resilience and environmental sustainability across Army operations. Prior to that role, Alex held several other senior positions in the federal government, including Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment, and Assistant Deputy for Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health at the Department of Defense. His extensive experience in energy, environment, and defense uniquely positioned him to navigate the complexities of aligning federal priorities with the Trump administration’s agenda. Alex is now the EEMI Director of Innovative Energy Strategies.
The event was organized and directed by Dr. Ed Saltzberg, EEMI Director of Professional Education.
The panelists explored their experiences in successfully navigating the challenges of the first Trump administration. Despite the emphasis on deregulation, these leaders found creative ways to keep their energy, environmental, and climate programs operational. They maintained progress on critical priorities by leveraging strategic alignment, finding common ground, and developing innovative frameworks.
Based on the large number of post-event comments received from participants, the experiences of the panelists provided valuable insights for federal staff facing similar challenges today. Below are a few of those comments:
- “The guests seemed unbiased and had very practical viewpoints, grounded in expertise and a long history in government and private sector. Put me (and therefore perhaps other attendees) more at ease about what's to come.”
- “People with practical ideas, and experience with what they were talking about…not just left-wing people talking.”
- “It was very encouraging as we all look to be proactive and prepared, to explore new avenues rather than just ‘batten down the hatches and brace yourself.’”
A recording of the event can be seen at the following link: Navigating the Trump 2 Deregulatory Agenda: Lessons from Environmental Officials in Trump 1.