View source for Council on Environmental Quality

{{Short description|U.S. presidential advisory committee on environmental policy}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox Government agency
| seal = US-CouncilOnEnvironmentalQuality-Seal.svg
| seal_width = 140px
| formed = 1969
| headquarters = 730 [[Jackson Place]]<br>[[Washington D.C.]]
| chief1_name = [[Katherine Scarlett]] (acting)
| chief1_position = Chair
| parent_agency = [[Executive Office of the President]]
| child1_agency = Office of the Federal Environmental Executive
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/19980206093350/http://www.whitehouse.gov/CEQ/ Council on Environmental Quality]
}}
[[File:730 Jackson Place.jpg|thumb|Council on Environmental Quality building at 730 [[Jackson Place]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]

The '''Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)''' is a division of the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|Executive Office of the President]] that coordinates federal [[Natural environment|environment]]al efforts in the [[United States]] and works closely with agencies and other White House offices on the development of environmental and energy policies and initiatives.

==Mission==
The CEQ produces an annual report for the president on the state of the environment, oversees federal agency implementation of [[environmental impact assessment]]s, and acts as a referee when agencies disagree over the adequacy of such assessments. The National Environmental Policy Act tasks CEQ with ensuring that federal agencies meet their obligations under the Act, granting the body a significant role in environmental protection. Through inter-agency working groups and coordination with other EOP bodies, CEQ also works to advance the president's agenda on the environment, natural resources, and energy.

==History==
===Origins===
The [[United States Congress]] established the CEQ within the Executive Office of the President as part of the [[National Environmental Policy Act]] of 1969 (NEPA), during the [[Richard Nixon]] administration.<ref>United States. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). {{USC|42|4342}}</ref> The CEQ was assigned additional responsibilities by the [[Environmental Quality Improvement Act]] of 1970. In enacting NEPA, Congress recognized that nearly all federal activities affect the environment in some way, and mandated that federal agencies must consider the environmental effects of their actions during their planning and decision-making processes.  Under NEPA, CEQ works to balance environmental, economic, and social objectives in pursuit of NEPA's goal of "productive harmony" between humans and their environment.<ref>NEPA, {{USC|42|4321}}.</ref>

===Clinton administration===
President [[Bill Clinton]] appointed [[Kathleen McGinty]] and then [[George T. Frampton Jr.]] to chair the agency. Clinton started his administration in 1993 with an announcement that CEQ would be "replaced" with a new White House Office on Environmental Policy with McGinty as director before later merging that office back into CEQ with McGinty formally nominated as chair.<ref name="OEP">https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-announcing-the-creation-the-white-house-office-environmental-policy</ref><ref name="Clinton Coordinate">https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1993/02/1993-02-08-white-house-office-to-coordinate-environmental-policy.html</ref><ref name="McGinty CEQ">https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/01/1995-01-04-mcginty-to-chair-council-on-environmental-quality.html</ref>

===George W. Bush administration===
President [[George W. Bush]]'s CEQ chairman was [[James L. Connaughton]], serving from 2001 to 2009. He was formerly a partner at the law firm [[Sidley Austin LLP]],<ref>"[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/connaugton-bio.html Connaughton Whitehouse bio]," whitehouse.gov</ref> where he [[Lobbying|lobbied]] to reduce government regulation on behalf of clients including the [[Aluminum Company of America]] and the [[American Chemistry Council|Chemical Manufacturers Association of America]].<ref>Griscom Little, Amanda "[http://outsideonline.com/outside/features/200505/counter-enviroment-power-list-11.html Earth Shakers: The Counter-Enviro Power List] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926171051/http://outsideonline.com/outside/features/200505/counter-enviroment-power-list-11.html |date=2010-09-26 }}," Outside Magazine, May 2005</ref>

During the Bush administration, there were concerns over links between CEQ staffers and the industries it oversaw. [[BBC]] Environment Analyst [[Roger Harrabin]] described it as "a hard-line group of advisers with close links to the [[Petroleum in the United States|U.S. oil industry]]."<ref>Harrabin, Roger "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5408798.stm Links to oil industry]," BBC, 5 October 2006</ref> One CEQ chief of staff under President Bush, [[Philip Cooney]], was previously a [[lobbyist]] employed by the [[American Petroleum Institute]].<ref>Revkin, Andrew "[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/10/politics/11cooney.long.html?ex=1276056000&en=7da9d69d3b1ecb1a&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss Lobbyist for API]," New York Times; June 10, 2005</ref> In June 2005, ''[[The New York Times]]'' published an internal CEQ memo provided by federal [[whistleblower]] [[Rick Piltz]]. The memo showed Cooney had repeatedly edited government climate reports in order to play down links between [[exhaust gas|emission]]s and [[global warming]]. Cooney, who claimed he had been planning to resign for two years, resigned two days after the scandal broke "to spend more time with his family."<ref>Revkin, Andrew "[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/politics/08climate.html?ei=5090&en=22149dc70c0731d8&ex=1275883200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss Cooney resignation]," ''The New York Times'', June 8, 2005</ref> Immediately after resigning, Cooney went to work for [[ExxonMobil]] in their public affairs department.<ref>Wilson, Jamie "[https://www.theguardian.com/usa/story/0,12271,1507554,00.html Cooney move to ExxonMobil]," ''The Guardian'', June 16, 2005</ref> In 2005 Piltz created a watchdog organization Climate Science Watch, a program of the [[Government Accountability Project]].<ref>"[http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/history/ History]". Climate Science&nbsp;&amp; Policy Watch. climatesciencewatch.org. Retrieved February&nbsp;4, 2018.</ref>

===Obama administration===
Under President [[Barack Obama]], [[Nancy Sutley]] served as [[Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality]] from January 2009<ref>Mooney, Chris (June 6, 2017). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20170606163950/https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/06/06/trump-has-filled-just-15-percent-of-the-governments-top-science-jobs/ 85 percent of the top science jobs in Trump's government don't even have a nominee]". ''The Washington Post''. washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February&nbsp;4, 2018. 
"The Obama administration also had a chair of its Council on Environmental Quality, Nancy Sutley, in place in January 2009."</ref> until February 2014.<ref>Banerjee, Neela (February&nbsp;14, 2014). "[https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-obama-environmental-advisor-20140213-story.html Obama's environmental advisor set to return to Los Angeles]". ''Los Angeles Times''. latimes.com. Retrieved February&nbsp;4, 2018. Refers to "her five years as head of the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality".</ref><ref>"[http://www.ladwpnews.com/nancy-sutley-receives-women-in-sustainability-leadership-award-from-green-building-design-magazine/ Nancy Sutley Receives Women in Sustainability Leadership Award from Green Building & Design Magazine]". Los Angeles Department of Water&nbsp;&amp; Power. October&nbsp;5, 2016 (press release; 2016 archive). Retrieved February&nbsp;4, 2018. "She is the immediate past Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality where she served from 2009 to 2014".</ref> Following Sutley's departure, [[Michael Boots]] served as acting head of the Council until March 2015.<ref>Eilperin, Juliet (January&nbsp;13, 2015). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/01/13/mike-boots-one-of-obamas-top-environmental-advisers-to-leave-in-march/ Mike Boots, one of Obama’s top environmental advisers, to leave in March]". ''The Washington Post''. washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February&nbsp;4, 2018. States that Boots "served as the Council on Environmental Quality's acting head since February 2014".</ref> [[Christy Goldfuss]] was appointed to succeed Boots, and served in the same capacity, as "managing director", until the end of Obama's term, in January 2017.<ref>Eilperin, Juliet (February&nbsp;6, 2015). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/02/06/meet-christy-goldfuss-the-newest-environmental-player-in-the-white-house/ Meet Christy Goldfuss, the newest environmental player in the White House]". ''The Washington Post''. washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February&nbsp;4, 2018. "Goldfuss&nbsp;... will succeed Mike Boots as acting head of CEQ.... Boots is stepping down in March, and Republican opposition to the president’s environmental policies would make Senate confirmation of any CEQ chair nominee unlikely."</ref><ref>"[https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release/2017/02/13/297094/release-cap-announces-former-ceq-managing-director-christy-goldfuss-to-serve-as-new-vice-president-for-energy-and-environment-policy/ CAP Announces Former CEQ Managing Director Christy Goldfuss to Serve as New Vice President for Energy and Environment Policy]" (press release). [[Center for American Progress]]. americanprogress.org. February&nbsp;13, 2017. Retrieved February&nbsp;4, 2018.</ref>

===First Trump administration===
In October 2017, President [[Donald Trump]] nominated [[Kathleen Hartnett White]]—former chair of the [[Texas Commission on Environmental Quality]]—to be chair of the CEQ.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dennis|first1=Brady|last2=Mooney|first2=Chris|date=October 13, 2017 |title= Trump taps climate skeptic for top White House environmental post  |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/10/13/trump-taps-climate-skeptic-for-top-white-house-environmental-post/ | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=October 13, 2017 }}</ref> However, her nomination was withdrawn in February 2018 as she did not garner enough support in the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/04/583069522/reports-white-house-to-withdraw-controversial-nominee-for-top-environmental-post|title=White House To Withdraw Controversial Nominee For Top Environmental Post|last=Bowman|first=Emma|publisher=NPR|date=February 4, 2018|access-date=February 4, 2018}}</ref> CEQ chief of staff and acting head [[Mary Neumayr]] was nominated and considered in summer 2018 as chair. She was confirmed in January 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thinkprogress.org/senate-democrats-go-easy-on-trumps-nominee-for-top-white-house-environmental-office-a371d8e5e7bd/|title=Democrats go easy on Trump's nominee for top White House environmental office|last=Hand|first=Mark|date=2018-07-18|work=The Hill|access-date=2018-09-21|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Biden administration===
In December 2020, president-elect [[Joe Biden]] nominated [[Brenda Mallory (public official)|Brenda Mallory]]—then-director of regulatory policy at the [[Southern Environmental Law Center]], and general counsel of the CEQ during the Obama administration—to serve as chair of the CEQ.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-14 |title=Biden’s Choice for the Council on Environmental Quality: Brenda Mallory |url=https://www.nrdc.org/stories/bidens-choice-council-environmental-quality-brenda-mallory |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=www.nrdc.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Volcovici |first=Valerie |date=March 24, 2021 |title=U.S. Senate panel confirms Mallory to head White House CEQ |url=https://kfgo.com/2021/03/24/u-s-senate-panel-confirms-mallory-to-lead-white-house-ceq/ |access-date=March 24, 2021 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> Mallory was confirmed by the Senate on April 14, 2021,<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00150 "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Brenda Mallory, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality)" United States Senate, April 14, 2021]</ref> becoming the first African American chair of the CEQ.<ref name="Volcovici 2021">{{cite news |last1=Volcovici |first1=Valerie |title=Senate votes to confirm Mallory to lead White House environmental council |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/senate-votes-confirm-mallory-lead-white-house-environmental-council-2021-04-14/ |access-date=17 April 2021 |work=Reuters |date=April 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>[https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/ceq/news-updates/2021/04/14/ceq-welcomes-brenda-mallory-as-new-chair/ ''CEQ Welcomes Brenda Mallory as New Chair''] (April 14, 2021)</ref> 
Mallory took part in the virtual [[2021 Leaders' Climate Summit]].<ref>whitehouse.gov: [https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/ceq/news-updates/2021/04/19/mallory-begins-work-as-chair-with-focus-on-environmental-justice/ ''Mallory Begins Work as Chair with Focus on Environmental Justice''] (April 19, 2021)</ref>

In November 2024, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]] ruled in ''Marin Audubon Society v. FAA'' that the CEQ does not have the authority to create binding regulations under the [[National Environmental Policy Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=D.C. Circuit Rules CEQ Lacks Authority to Issue NEPA Regulations |url=https://natlawreview.com/article/dc-circuit-sua-sponte-holds-ceq-cannot-impose-binding-nepa-regulations |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=natlawreview.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Second Trump administration ===
In 2025, the second Trump administration issued an interim final rule directed the CEQ to rescind all regulations it had made implementing the NEPA since 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Newsline {{!}} CEQ Rule To Rescind All Prior NEPA Regulations at OIRA |url=https://www.abc.org/News-Media/Newsline/ceq-rule-to-rescind-all-prior-nepa-regulations-at-oira |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=www.abc.org |language=en}}</ref> 

==Chair==
The '''Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality''' serves as the principal environmental policy adviser to the US President. In addition, CEQ reports annually to the President on the state of the environment; oversees federal agency implementation of the [[environmental impact assessment]] process; and acts as a referee when agencies disagree over the adequacy of such assessments. The Council coordinates federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives.

{|class="toccolours"
|{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting capacity.}}
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!class=unsortable |Image
!Name
!Start
!End
!colspan=2 |President
|-
|[[File:Russell train.gif|70px]]
|{{sortname|Russell|Train}}
|{{dts|January 1, 1970}}
|{{dts|September 12, 1973}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}}<br>(1969–1974)
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Senator Tom Carper was on hand to celebrate Governor Russ Peterson and the opening of the Russell W. Peterson Wildlife Refuge and DuPont Education Center (03) (cropped) (cropped).jpg|70px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Russell|Peterson}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|1973}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|1976}}
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Gerald|Ford}}<br>(1974–1977)
|-
|[[File:John Busterud (cropped).jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|John|Busterud}}
|{{dts|1976}}
|{{dts|1977}}
|-
|[[File:Charles H. Warren (politician).jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|Charles|Warren|dab=California politician}}
|{{dts|1977}}
|{{dts|1979}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}}<br>(1977–1981)
|-
|[[File:James Gustave Speth, 2008 (cropped).jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|Gus|Speth|James Gustave Speth}}
|{{dts|1979}}
|{{dts|1981}}
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|70px]]
|{{sortname|Alan|Hill|A. Alan Hill}}
|{{dts|1981}}
|{{dts|1989}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}}<br>(1981–1989)
|-
|[[File:No image.svg|70px]]
|{{sortname|Michael|Deland}}
|{{dts|1989}}
|{{dts|1993}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}}<br>(1989–1993)
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Kathleen McGinty (2015).jpg|70px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Katie|McGinty}}{{efn|Clinton started his administration in 1993 with an announcement that CEQ would be "replaced" with a new White House Office on Environmental Policy with McGinty as director before later merging that office back into CEQ with McGinty formally nominated as chair.<ref name="OEP"/><ref name="Clinton Coordinate"/><ref name="McGinty CEQ"/>}}
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |{{dts|January 20, 1993}}
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |{{dts|January 5, 1995}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}}<br>(1993–2001)
|-
|{{dts|January 5, 1995}}
|{{dts|November 7, 1998}}
|-
|[[File:George Frampton (cropped).jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|George|Frampton|George T. Frampton}}
|{{dts|February 23, 1999}}<ref>https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/20010604_RL30564_c8f4d45f6eff18d911e90809ca7f418b40d47651.pdf</ref>
|{{dts|January 20, 2001}}
|-
|[[File:James L. Connaughton (2).jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|James|Connaughton|James L. Connaughton}}
|{{dts|June 18, 2001}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2009}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|George W.|Bush}}<br>(2001–2009)
|-
|[[File:Nancy Sutley official portrait.jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|Nancy|Sutley}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2009}}
|{{dts|February 2014}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}}<br>(2009–2017)
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|[[File:Mike Boots.jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|Mike|Boots}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|February 2014}}
|{{dts|March 2015}}
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|[[File:Christy Goldfuss.jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|Christy|Goldfuss}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|{{dts|March 2015}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2017}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Mary B. Neumayr (cropped).jpg|70px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Mary|Neumayr}}
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |{{dts|March 9, 2017}}<ref>https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/1060051250</ref>
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |{{dts|January 10, 2019}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2017–2021)
|-
|{{dts|January 10, 2019}}<ref>https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/1060051250</ref>
|{{dts|January 20, 2021}}
|-
|[[File:Brenda Mallory, CEQ Chair portrait.jpg|70px]]
|{{sortname|Brenda|Mallory|dab=public official}}
|{{dts|April 16, 2021}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2025}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Joe|Biden}}<br>(2021–2025)
|-
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |[[File:No image.svg|70px]]
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |{{sortname|Katherine|Scarlett}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |{{dts|January 20, 2025}}
|style="background-color:#E6E6AA;" |present
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2025–present)
|}

===Notes===
{{noteslist}}

==See also==
*[[Executive Office of the President of the United States]]
*[[The Global 2000 Report to the President]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
{{wikisource|State of the Environment by the Council on Environmental Quality (1970)|State of the Environment 1970}}
*[https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/ceq/ Council on Environmental Quality]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110511191900/http://openregs.com/agencies/view/275/council_on_environmental_quality Proposed and finalized federal regulations from the Council on Environmental Quality]

{{EOP agencies}}
{{United States government agencies involved in environmental science}}
{{Presidency of Richard Nixon}}
{{US Environmental law}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Environmental law in the United States]]
[[Category:Environmental policy in the United States]]
[[Category:Executive Office of the President of the United States]]
[[Category:George W. Bush administration controversies]]
[[Category:1969 in the environment]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1969]]