In a surprising move that has drawn attention across the political spectrum, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 3, 2024, titled “Make America Beautiful Again.” This new directive establishes a federal commission tasked with promoting conservation efforts, safeguarding public lands and wildlife, ensuring clean drinking water, and improving outdoor recreational access.
The initiative is led by Benji Backer, a 27-year-old conservative environmentalist and founder of the nonprofit organization Nature Is Nonpartisan. Backer has long advocated for bridging the ideological divide in environmental policy, pushing for bipartisan collaboration on conservation without delving into the contentious politics surrounding climate change. His leadership in this new commission is seen as a strategic effort to appeal to Americans across the political spectrum who care deeply about preserving natural landscapes and resources.
According to the executive order, the new commission will be composed of leaders from major federal environmental agencies, including the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. The model for the commission draws inspiration from a similar Trump-era initiative focused on public health, which brought together experts from various agencies to coordinate strategies. This conservation-focused version seeks to emulate that interagency cooperation, albeit within a narrower scope that avoids direct mention of climate change or carbon emissions.
Notably absent from the text of the order are references to global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, or renewable energy—omissions consistent with the Trump administration’s earlier policies that rolled back numerous climate-related regulations. Critics argue that this limitation undermines the seriousness of any environmental policy, but supporters view it as a pragmatic approach to achieving real, tangible conservation results in a deeply divided political climate.
Backer emphasized that the commission’s goal is not to sideline science but to focus on actionable conservation projects that resonate with communities. Initiatives under consideration include habitat restoration, the cleanup of polluted waterways, expanding access to national parks, and promoting responsible land use practices.
Environmental advocates on both the center-right and center-left have expressed cautious optimism about the initiative. While skeptical about the absence of climate-related policies, some see value in any federal effort to protect natural resources. The hope among many is that this move could foster broader cooperation on environmental issues and lay the groundwork for future, more comprehensive reforms.
In an era of deep political polarization, the formation of this conservation commission stands out as a rare attempt at unity, offering a platform where environmental stewardship might transcend party lines. Whether it leads to significant policy changes remains to be seen, but it is undeniably a noteworthy shift in tone from an administration more often known for deregulation than environmental action.
