An Obama-era rule intended to protect waterways from run-off pollution was put on track for termination by the Trump administration on Tuesday, once again raising the specter that his administration is ridden by conflicts of interest.
The “Waters of the United States” rule had long been a target of GOP politicos working at the behest of energy and agricultural interests that would be affected by the regulation. Its repeal was also heavily lobbied for by the golf course industry.
The Trump Organization’s holdings include 12 courses in the US.
Bob Helland, the lead lobbyist for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, told Bloomberg that killing off the water rule was “a very high priority to us.”
“We are pleased to see that there is an effort to revisit the rule under this executive order,” he added.
The outlet reported that the group, which has ties to Trump businesses, spent $30,000 lobbying trying to defeat the rule in 2014, before it was finalized the next year by the Obama administration.
The rule has been embroiled in legal battles since it was finalized, and it has never taken effect.
Before taking office, Trump claimed he was putting to rest conflict of interest concerns related to his company and $3.6 billion in assets by signing ownership over to his sons, Eric and Donald, Jr.
The arrangement did not satisfy ethics watchdogs who allege that business holdings within the Trump family could be unconstitutional. The Emoluments Clause prohibits government officials from accepting any profits or fees from a foreign government representative. Overseas dignitaries deciding to stay at Trump’s hotels, for example, could put the President in violation of that clause.
Last week, the liberal group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed suit against the Trump administration, alleging that Trump’s current business arraignment is illegal.
