AG Brown calls on EPA to rescind pro-pollution policy, enforce environmental laws

# AG Brown Leads Coalition Opposing EPA Enforcement Policy

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and 12 other state attorneys general called on the EPA to rescind a Trump administration policy they say weakens federal environmental enforcement. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the coalition criticized a December 2025 memo titled "Compliance First" that they argue discourages compliance, creates bureaucratic delays, and allows polluters to avoid accountability.

The attorneys general contend the policy prevents EPA staff from using enforcement tools such as penalties and injunctive relief. The memo also requires enforcement officials to immediately escalate any concerns raised by polluters to upper management, potentially stalling the compliance process. Brown stated the policy "gives polluters a tacit green light to break federal environmental laws."

The coalition warned that weak environmental enforcement disproportionately impacts communities already burdened by pollution, including communities of color, low-income areas, and rural communities. The attorneys general cited a previous similar policy during the COVID-19 pandemic that correlated with increased air pollution and statistically significant rises in COVID-19 cases and deaths in counties with more industrial facilities. They urged the EPA to rescind the memo and restore enforcement practices prioritizing compliance and accountability.