Plastic Over Paper: White House Bans Paper Straws, Signals Broader Attack on Environmental Policies

In a stunning rollback of environmental policies, the White House issued an Executive Order ending the procurement and use of paper straws by the federal government. The order, signed on February 10, 2025, frames paper straws as an ineffective, costly alternative that provides no real environmental benefits. This move comes as part of the administration’s broader effort to dismantle sustainability initiatives, including the revocation of Executive Order 14057—a Biden-era directive aimed at transitioning federal agencies toward clean energy and eco-friendly procurement policies.

By prioritizing plastic over paper, this policy marks a symbolic rejection of environmental activism, aligning with conservative efforts to challenge climate-focused regulations. But the implications stretch beyond just straws—this order signals an aggressive push against state-led environmental policies and suggests possible federal overreach into state and private-sector sustainability laws. Could this be a test run for broader deregulation efforts? And does this policy reflect a corporate-driven attack on environmental protections?

Policy Content & Intent – What Does This Order Actually Do?

This executive order bans the federal government from purchasing and using paper straws while simultaneously eliminating all federal policies that discourage plastic straw use. The order has three primary components:

1. Ending Federal Procurement of Paper Straws

   • All executive agencies must cease purchasing and distributing paper straws in federal buildings.
   • Any previous agency policies favoring paper over plastic must be revoked.

2. Targeting State and Business Policies on Plastic Straw Bans

   • The order mandates that federal agencies review and challenge state-level bans or restrictions on plastic straws.
   • This includes potentially penalizing states and businesses that prohibit plastic straw use in contracts or grants.

3. Developing a National Strategy Against Paper Straws

   • Within 45 days, the White House will issue a comprehensive national strategy to reverse policies discouraging plastic straw use.
   • This includes contract negotiations with states and businesses, possibly leveraging federal funding to incentivize compliance.

At its core, this order is about reasserting federal authority over environmental regulations, prioritizing corporate convenience over sustainability, and signaling a broader attack on green policies.

Historical Context – Where Have We Seen This Before?

This executive order is a direct reversal of Biden-era sustainability initiatives. Under Executive Order 14057 (2021), the federal government committed to reducing waste, cutting emissions, and shifting towards sustainable procurement. The push for paper straws was part of this initiative, aiming to reduce plastic waste and microplastic pollution—both of which have been shown to contaminate oceans, harm marine life, and infiltrate the food supply.

This decision mirrors past conservative attacks on environmental policies, such as:

• Trump’s 2017 rollback of Obama-era Clean Water Act protections, which prioritized corporate interests over environmental concerns.
• George W. Bush’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol (2001), dismissing international climate agreements in favor of deregulation.
• The oil industry’s lobbying efforts against plastic bag bans, which used similar rhetoric about cost and convenience to block sustainability efforts.

The anti-paper straw movement has been heavily promoted by right-wing media and corporate interests, with fast-food giants like McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks navigating public pressure on both sides of the issue. Could this policy be a precursor to rolling back larger environmental regulations?

Broader Policy Context – How Does This Fit Into the Bigger Picture?

This policy aligns with the Project 2025 agenda, a comprehensive conservative playbook designed to dismantle federal regulatory oversight and environmental protections. The 2025 Mandate for Leadership, the guiding document behind Project 2025, explicitly calls for:

• Eliminating “radical environmental policies” that impede business interests.
• Deregulating industries affected by Biden-era sustainability initiatives.
• Reasserting federal control over state-level environmental policies, overriding local efforts to regulate sustainability.

This executive order is a test case for broader deregulation, particularly in areas like:

• Plastic waste regulations (potential rollback of bans on single-use plastics).
• Federal clean energy incentives (possible cuts to green energy funding).
• State environmental autonomy (increased legal battles between states and the federal government over sustainability laws).

By attacking an issue as symbolic as straws, this administration is signaling a much larger war on climate action, state authority, and corporate sustainability initiatives.

Predicted Outcomes & Probability Estimates

My Last Word

This executive order is more than just a policy about straws—it is a clear message that environmental regulations are under attack. By prioritizing corporate convenience over sustainability, the administration is testing how far it can go in rolling back climate action.

But this move will not go unchallenged. State governments, advocacy groups, and climate-conscious businesses will fight back, and this battle over something as small as straws could set a dangerous precedent for future environmental rollbacks.

What’s next? Plastic bag mandates? Elimination of clean energy funding? Reversal of emissions standards? This is just the beginning. The question is—will the public push back before it’s too late?

Citations and Relevant Links

• White House Executive Orders
• EPA on Plastic Pollution
• Project 2025 Overview
• Natural Resources Defense Council Reports
• California Environmental Protection Agency