Donald Trump Revokes Obama-Era Chesapeake Bay Restoration Order

President Donald Trump revoked Executive Order 13508 on September 17, 2026, ending a 17-year-old mandate that coordinated federal, state, and local efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay. The administration argued the Obama-era directive lacked clarity and led municipalities to impose stormwater management fees, or rain taxes, which burdened residents and small businesses without explicit federal requirements.

Under the new directive, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Homeland Security must review their contributions to the bay's health and prioritize resources for high-need areas. The EPA is further tasked with encouraging the repeal of stormwater fees and coordinating with states to find cost-free cleanup methods. In Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, local lawmakers are now urging Governor Josh Shapiro to halt state-level mandates tied to the revoked order, though regional authorities note that state laws may still require the fees.

Environmental advocates and regional leaders condemned the move. Maryland Governor Wes Moore called the decision an attack on the state's farmers and fishers. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation warned that dismantling the federal-state framework jeopardizes decades of progress in reducing pollution and tackling climate change, with leadership stating the administration is attempting to destroy restoration efforts by executive order.