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On Friday last, several federal government websites went dark after the Trump administration issued a directive instructing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to unpublish or archive web pages focused on climate change. The sudden move followed executive orders from President Trump, which included rolling back environmental protections and introducing stringent changes to federal agency operations.
Among the affected sites were critical resources hosted by the United States Forest Service (USFS) and other USDA divisions. The USFS Climate Change Resource Center, Climate Action Tracker, and the National Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change all went offline, leaving users with error messages or restricted access notices.
Flurry of Policy Changes Impact Climate Crisis Resources
The directive issued by USDA’s office of communications instructed agency website managers to identify, archive, or unpublish pages addressing climate change. A Friday deadline was set to document the changes in a spreadsheet for further review.
One of the notable resources still online as of publication was USDA’s Climate Hubs, a valuable platform that connects agricultural producers with local programs and research. Nevertheless, the loss of other crucial resources hinders farmers, firefighters, and other stakeholders who depend on accurate climate information to adapt to evolving environmental challenges.
Policy Overhaul Sparks Chaos in Federal Agencies
The Trump administration’s new directives did not stop at website management. Broader changes have reshaped environmental policies and federal agency operations. President Trump repealed several environmental protections introduced by former President Joe Biden, withdrew the United States from the Paris climate agreement, and declared an energy emergency to fast-track fossil fuel extraction.
Adding to the upheaval, federal agencies were instructed to halt hiring, pause ongoing projects, and navigate confusion stemming from widespread policy reversals. The administration also introduced a buyout offer guaranteeing federal employees pay and benefits through September 2025 if they choose to resign within a week.
These moves have drawn widespread concern over the long-term implications for climate resilience and government functionality. Environmental advocates warn that restricting public access to climate data undermines the ability to mitigate the effects of global heating. Additionally, the rollback of equity and inclusion initiatives, as mandated by one of Trump’s executive orders, signals a retreat from progressive policies implemented in recent years.
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/31/trump-order-usda-websites-climate-crisis
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