Youth Climate Activists Appeal Trump's Environmental Orders

Ninth Circuit court considers reviving lawsuit challenging Trump's climate policy rollbacks.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A surreal, fragmented painting in shades of blue, green, and orange depicting a cracked, melting globe or thermometer, conveying a sense of environmental crisis and political tension.A legal battle over the former president's climate policy rollbacks exposes the clash between youth activists and the federal government.Washington Today

A group of 22 young climate activists have appealed a lower court's dismissal of their lawsuit against former President Donald Trump's executive orders that cut funding for climate change programs and aimed to boost energy production. The activists argue the orders violate their constitutional right to life due to the harmful environmental impacts. The Justice Department has urged the Ninth Circuit appeals court to uphold the dismissal, arguing the courts should not intervene in these policy decisions.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles between youth climate activists and the federal government over policies related to climate change. The activists are seeking to use the courts to challenge executive actions they believe will exacerbate environmental damage, while the government argues these are political issues outside the judiciary's purview.

The details

The appeals court heard arguments on Monday from both sides. The Justice Department lawyer, John K. Adams, told the panel that the courts have no business addressing the 'sprawling and speculative legal theories' brought by the activists, and that the relief they seek requires a 'balancing of competing economic, social, and political forces' that should be left to elected officials. The activists' lawyer, Julia Olson, argued the executive orders unlawfully subvert Congress's goal of combating climate change and urged the court to allow the case to continue.

  • The lawsuit was originally filed in 2017 and dismissed by a lower federal court in 2020 due to a lack of standing.
  • The Ninth Circuit appeals court heard arguments in the case on April 14, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president whose executive orders on climate and energy policy are being challenged by the youth activists.

Julia Olson

The lawyer representing the group of 22 young climate activists in the appeal.

John K. Adams

The Justice Department lawyer arguing for the court to uphold the dismissal of the lawsuit.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This case is another climate change case with sprawling and speculative legal theories and claims.”

— John K. Adams, Justice Department lawyer

“This court cannot enjoin the executive branch from exercising express congressional authority. The relief plaintiffs seek here requires a balancing of competing economic, social, and political forces that must be made to our elected officials, both within the legislative branch and within the executive branch.”

— John K. Adams, Justice Department lawyer

“The executive orders in question unlawfully subvert Congress's goal of combating climate change.”

— Julia Olson, Lawyer for youth climate activists

What’s next

The Ninth Circuit panel will decide whether to revive the youth activists' lawsuit against the Trump administration's climate policy rollbacks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles between youth climate activists and the federal government over policies related to climate change, with the activists seeking to use the courts to challenge executive actions they believe will exacerbate environmental damage, while the government argues these are political issues outside the judiciary's purview.