NewsEnvironment

Supreme Court reinstates Trump-era water rule for now

Supreme Court-Clean Water Act
Add KERO as a Google Preferred Source

The Supreme Court has reinstated, for now, a Trump-era rule that had curtailed the power of states and Native American tribes to block pipelines and other energy projects that can pollute rivers, streams and other waterways.

In a 5-4 decision, the justices agreed to halt a lower court judge’s order throwing out the rule and sending it back to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Justice Elena Kagan argued that states and group that asked for a pause of the rule did not prove that it would cause “irreparable harm” and said the court should have allowed the appeal to proceed.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Justices Stephen G. Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor also dissented.

The Biden administration has said it intends to rewrite the rule.

Work on a revised rule has begun, but the administration has said a final rule isn’t expected until spring 2023.

The Trump-era rule will remain in effect in the meantime.

Bakersfield, CA

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

SaturdaySat

11/14/2026

Mostly Clear

-° / 49°

5%

SundaySun

11/15/2026

Mostly Cloudy

71° / 52°

4%

MondayMon

11/16/2026

Showers

59° / 47°

56%

TuesdayTue

11/17/2026

Mostly Clear

59° / 42°

4%

WednesdayWed

11/18/2026

Rain

65° / 53°

80%

ThursdayThu

11/19/2026

Showers

60° / 46°

47%

FridayFri

11/20/2026

Mostly Clear

59° / 40°

6%

SaturdaySat

11/21/2026

Partly Cloudy

61° / 43°

4%