More Than 200 Million Americans Face Dangerous Winter Storms, But Trump Is Only Focused On Himself

WASHINGTON, DC – As winter storms threaten more than 200 million Americans this weekend, Trump’s full attention is on Greenland – not lowering costs or protecting Americans. Trump has left Americans more vulnerable to winter storms and extreme cold by weakening our forecasting capabilities and driving up heating costs. Trump’s war on clean energy has hiked utility costs and taken cheap, reliable energy off the grid when demand is higher than ever. Ahead of the storm, natural gas prices have jumped 60% – jacking up heating costs even further and putting communities at risk during the extreme cold. 

Climate Power Communications Director Alex Glass issued the following statement: “Americans in 40 states are bracing for winter storms this weekend, worrying about the cost of heat and groceries, while Trump’s busy trying to buy a foreign country. Keeping the heat on during extreme cold is a matter of life or death, but Trump has made energy more expensive and weakened the power grid when needs are soaring. Trump has abandoned his America-first promises, and this weekend his policies could leave millions out in the cold.” 

Trump’s cuts have hiked heating costs and made Americans more vulnerable ahead of winter storms: 

• As record cold sets in across the country, Trump has taken a sledgehammer to clean energy – driving up utility costs and taking energy options off the grid as demand soars. 
• Trump’s war on clean energy has stalled or canceled 332 clean energy projects or companies, which would have generated enough electricity to power 13.5 million homes. 
• Trump promised to cut energy costs in half during his first year, but utility bills are up 13% nationally since he took office. 
• Trump fired the entire staff of the federal Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), threatening and delaying critical assistance that helps Americans pay their heating bills.
• Trump has doubled down on volatile, expensive fossil fuels, and natural gas prices have jumped 60% ahead of the storm – driving heating costs up even further. 
• Trump’s cuts to the National Weather Service and NOAA have degraded forecasts during previous extreme weather events and could make it harder to accurately predict winter storm severity, threatening life-saving weather alerts and putting communities at risk.  
• Trump is cutting critical disaster response and recovery staff and has actively dismantled the nation’s disaster response capabilities. The Government Accountability Office found that Trump’s cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency are putting the country at risk of being unprepared to respond to massive natural disasters.