The Trump administration eliminated environmental protections covering a significant portion of U.S. waterways, paving the way for developers, farmers, and industries to operate with fewer impediments, as public health officials and environmentalists blasted the move. The new policies scale back the number of streams, wetlands, and other bodies that are protected against pollution and development under the Clean Water Act. President Trump has opposed the long-standing policies that he believes needlessly stand in the way of businesses. Developers and other businesses will also benefit due to less regulation for waterways and wetlands, according to government data. Trump told a farmers' convention in 2019 that protections that kept developers out of waterways were among "the most ridiculous" of regulations.

Source: Fox News January 23, 2020 19:41 UTC