Why Trump repealed the ‘Clean Water’ rule

Fulfilling a campaign promise, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Feb. 28 ordering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to roll back the Waters of the United States rule issued by the Obama administration. During the signing Trump called the order, also known as the Clean Water rule, “a massive power grab” and said EPA’s regulators are putting people “out of jobs by the hundreds of thousands.” Federal law authorizes the EPA to regulate “navigable waters.” At issue in the objections to the Waters of the United States rule is what defines these waters. Critics say the rule gives the government the power to regulate every pond, puddle or ditch.  Read more