The recent change in administration in Washington has sparked a renewed sense of optimism here in Louisiana. This transition presents an opportunity to realign priorities that have, in some cases, promoted false narratives of clean air and water above the fundamental needs of human communities. We’ve seen the consequences of such misguided policies in California, where the prioritization of wildlife and habitat management of an endangered species, the three inch delta smelt, led to devastating water shortages during the wildfire crisis. These shortages not only compromised firefighting efforts during the Palisades fire but also resulted in loss of life and destruction of homes and communities.

This situation underscores a troubling trend: the disconnect between federal decision-makers, often ensconced within the Washington, D.C. beltway, and the realities faced by policies implemented upon Americans living thousands of miles away. Having served as the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under President Trump’s first term, I witnessed firsthand the challenges posed by an incoming administration in their efforts to unravel the bureaucracy that sometimes loses sight of local needs.

Read more in RealClearEnergy here.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.