Trump Reinstates Plastic Straws: Key Information You Need to Know
The order terminates the federal ‘procurement and mandated use of paper straws,’ bringing to a close what Trump described as an ‘irrational campaign.’
This week, President Donald Trump caught many off guard by directing his focus toward the issue of plastic straws and their application in federal properties.
The directive requires heads of executive departments and agencies to cease purchasing paper straws and ensure they are not distributed by the government in federal buildings, with implementation expected within 45 days.
“We’re reverting back to plastic straws. These things simply don’t function,” Trump remarked. “I’ve tried them numerous times, and occasionally, they break or burst.”
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However, the White House emphasized that the president is focused on fostering a “clean and healthy environment” for all Americans. The administration has praised its “common-sense approach” to environmental matters, affirming its dedication to conserving the nation’s natural resources.
Reversing Biden’s Order
In December 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order on environmental initiatives, including plastic straws. This order was part of a broader plan to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity and 100 percent zero-emission vehicle transactions within the next decade.
The Biden administration stated that it “must capitalize on previous achievements and explore new strategies to bolster the Nation’s readiness and resilience to the impacts of a changing climate.”
A section of Biden’s executive order mandated federal agencies to adopt aggressive measures to minimize the use of single-use plastics, including annual reports to monitor progress toward their elimination.
As indicated by the order, the environmental campaign initiated by Trump’s predecessor—including a review of contracts for potential reductions in plastic use—resulted in the prohibition of straws by businesses and several large cities or their automatic inclusion in drink orders.
“Plastic straws are frequently substituted with paper straws, which are often ineffective, contain chemicals that may pose health risks, cost more to produce than plastic straws, and frequently require users to use multiple straws,” stated Trump’s executive order. “Moreover, paper straws are sometimes individually wrapped in plastic, negating the environmental rationale for their usage.”
Some advocates for the plastic straw ban have highlighted the potential environmental dangers posed by plastics.
Where Harris Stood
Before the issuance of that order, Trump has made it clear that he didn’t consider plastic straws to be a pressing concern. When asked about a potential ban on plastic straws in 2019, Trump replied to a reporter, “I believe we have more significant issues than plastic straws.”
He further noted, “It’s intriguing when you think about plastic straws: They’re tiny, yet what about the plates, the wrappers, and everything else, which are considerably larger and constructed from the same material?”
“I think we should, indeed,” Harris responded when queried about the ban on plastic straws. “To be candid, drinking from a paper straw is incredibly challenging—if you don’t gulp it down instantly, it begins to bend, and then the little piece gets stuck. So we need to refine that process a bit more.”
Jackson Richman and Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
