"This is a war on our environment, waged by a reckless President," CT AG Tong said.

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong on Wednesday condemned a series of executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump aimed at bolstering fossil fuel energy production and limiting state efforts to combat climate change.

In a statement, Tong called the orders “a war on our environment” and accused Trump of prioritizing the interests of the fossil fuel industry over public health and environmental protection.

"This is a war on our environment, waged by a reckless President on behalf of his fossil fuel industry backers who do not care if our air and water are toxic so long as they make money.," Tong said. "Washington has failed for decades to address the climate crisis, and like just about everything else right now, it has fallen on states to protect our families."

The orders, which seek to revive coal-fired power plants and challenge state-level climate initiatives, have drawn sharp criticism from environmental advocates and legal experts. Tong said the administration’s position misinterprets the Constitution and undermines state sovereignty.

He also criticized the economic rationale behind coal energy revival, calling it “expensive and dirty,” and warned that Trump’s approach would offer no financial relief to Connecticut residents while increasing environmental and health risks.

Tong urged the U.S. Department of Justice to uphold existing environmental laws rather than pursue investigations into state policies.