President Donald Trump has rescinded a federal executive order from 2009 that mandated coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local governments to restore the Chesapeake Bay. The original order established specific targets to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, which contribute to harmful algae blooms and the bay’s summer dead zones.

In announcing the revocation, the administration cited concerns over economic burdens placed on residents and small businesses. The order criticized so-called “rain taxes,” or stormwater management fees, imposed by local governments to fund infrastructure aimed at controlling runoff. It argued these fees have resulted in significant financial impacts without clear environmental benefits for the bay or affected communities.

The administration’s statement noted projections indicating that this summer's dead zone in Chesapeake Bay is anticipated to be the smallest since 1985, approximately 31 percent below the long-term average. Instead of the previous coordinated framework with annual reporting, the new directive instructs multiple federal departments—including Defense, the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Homeland Security, alongside the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—to independently assess their roles and allocate resources toward projects in areas most in need.

The order also directs the EPA to work with the states of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to address concerns related to stormwater fees and explore alternative, cost-free methods for bay cleanup.

In Virginia, stormwater fees are generally based on the amount of impervious surface on a property, such as buildings and paved areas, which tend to impact owners of larger properties disproportionately. Local jurisdictions are required to maintain stormwater management programs, with the cost recovery typically coming either through these fees or other local taxes if the fees are not levied.

The revocation has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups. Hilary Harp Falk, president and chief executive officer of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, characterized the administration’s action as an attempt to dismantle bay restoration efforts. She asserted that repealing the 2009 order weakens the federal government’s leadership role and diminishes the ability of local and state governments to effectively address pollution in the bay.

The Chesapeake Bay, one of the largest estuaries in the United States, has long struggled with pollution from agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, and wastewater discharges, leading to degraded water quality and habitat loss. The 2009 executive order had been viewed as a cornerstone in the multi-jurisdictional effort to reverse these trends through regulatory and voluntary measures. The Trump administration’s revocation signals a significant shift in the federal approach to environmental management of the Chesapeake Bay.