NPR

Government Can Waive Environmental Laws To Build Border Wall Prototypes, Court Rules

Environmental groups and the state of California had argued that the Trump administration overstepped its authority when it waived the environmental laws to build border barriers. A court disagrees.

The Trump administration was within its rights to waive dozens of environmental laws to fast track some border construction projects in southern California, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The Department of Homeland Security said in 2017 it would bypass various environmental regulations —. By granting itself the waiver, the government avoided the requirement to complete environmental impact studies. Environmental advocacy groups and the state of California quickly challenged the waiver in court, arguing the agency overstepped its authority.

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