President Donald Trump has announced plans to sign an executive order next week reversing the Biden administration’s effort to phase out single-use plastic straws in federal buildings. The move marks yet another rollback of environmental policies set by his predecessor.
Taking to Truth Social on Friday, Trump declared: “I will be signing an Executive Order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don’t work. BACK TO PLASTIC!”
Trump has long been a vocal critic of paper straws, frequently mocking their durability. During a 2020 campaign rally, he questioned their practicality, saying, “Has anyone tried those paper straws? They’re not working too good.” More recently, at a January 2024 event in Iowa, he pointed out the irony of paper straws being individually wrapped in plastic, calling it a sign that “this country’s gone wild.”
Trump’s stance against paper straws dates back to 2019, when his campaign capitalized on the issue by selling red, reusable plastic straws emblazoned with his name. The merchandise was marketed as a response to “liberal paper straws that don’t work” and reportedly raised nearly $500,000.
The Biden administration had introduced its federal plastic phase-out plan in July 2024, aiming to eliminate single-use plastic straws from government operations by 2027 and from all federal operations by 2035. The initiative, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sought to transition to more sustainable materials. Several states, including California and New York, had already enacted plastic straw bans.
Trump’s planned executive order signals a sharp departure from those environmental efforts, underscoring his administration’s focus on rolling back regulatory policies. While environmental advocates argue that plastic reduction is necessary for sustainability, Trump and his supporters see paper straws as an example of government overreach and ineffective regulation.
