House Republicans: Stop Targeting Climate Groups

House Republicans are turning the power of Congress against some of the country’s biggest environmental organizations — and threatening one of the most important tools we have to hold polluters and the government accountable.

Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee have launched an investigation into 19 prominent environmental and conservation organizations that have used the courts to challenge federal policies and enforce environmental laws.

Their offense? Going to court to enforce environmental laws.

The committee is demanding written answers and in-person testimony about these groups’ litigation and the attorney fees they can sometimes recover when they successfully challenge the federal government. Committee Republicans are even openly considering legislation targeting what they dismissively call environmental “lawfare.”

But suing the government when it breaks the law isn’t “lawfare.” It’s a fundamental part of holding our government accountable.

Environmental and climate groups have used the courts for decades to defend clean air and water, protect wildlife and public lands, challenge fossil fuel projects, and fight government decisions that worsen the climate crisis or violate federal law. Provisions allowing successful challengers to recover certain legal costs can help ensure that taking on the federal government isn’t a privilege reserved for corporations and the wealthy.

Now those protections could be in the crosshairs.

The timing is especially disturbing. The administration is working aggressively to expand fossil fuel development and dismantle climate and environmental safeguards. Instead of investigating the consequences of those policies — including more pollution and greater climate risk — House Republicans are investigating organizations fighting them in court.

Congressional oversight should uncover wrongdoing — not intimidate critics or make it harder for Americans to enforce laws Congress itself passed.

Climate advocates should not have to fear congressional retaliation for exercising their legal rights.

Please sign the petition telling the House Natural Resources Committee to stop targeting environmental organizations and protect Americans’ ability to hold their government accountable.

The petition to the House Natural Resources Committee reads: Stop using congressional power to target environmental organizations for exercising their legal right to challenge federal actions. Protect the ability of nonprofit organizations and ordinary Americans to enforce our environmental and climate laws and hold the federal government accountable when it breaks them.
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Source: 

https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026/09/house-committee-launches-investigation-into-19-climate-groups-01065600