In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, the Biden administration has unveiled a new plan to combat plastic pollution. The initiative aims to phase out single-use plastics—like cutlery, cups, and straws—across federal departments, marking a significant escalation in the administration’s environmental agenda.
President Biden, who has made the climate crisis a cornerstone of his presidency, announced the ambitious plan in July. The White House has called for a “united effort” from every federal agency to achieve this goal, which involves eliminating single-use plastics from federal procurement by 2027 and from all federal operations by 2035.
According to the White House, this sweeping plan will target items such as plastic and polystyrene food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery, and disposable plastic bags. This move is part of a broader strategy to address the “climate crisis” and reduce global plastic production and consumption.
“The President is committed to taking ambitious actions to end plastic pollution and is calling upon the global community to do the same,” the White House stated, underscoring Biden’s push for a global reduction in virgin plastics.
However, this focus on plastic waste has been met with considerable backlash from Republican lawmakers, who argue that the administration’s priorities are misplaced and economically damaging.
Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) was quick to dismiss the initiative as a distraction from more pressing issues. “The world’s on fire, and he’s worried about plastic forks,” Rounds told the Daily Mail, mocking the administration’s emphasis on single-use plastics amidst ongoing global challenges.
Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) echoed this sentiment, describing the plan as “laughable” and “absurd.” Lankford criticized the administration for targeting an entire industry with regulations that he believes will lead to higher costs for consumers without addressing more urgent fiscal issues. “It’s more messaging and ridiculousness, and it’s a direct shot to that whole industry,” he said.
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) raised concerns about the practical impact of the policy on government operations and military bases. He suggested that instead of focusing on reducing plastic usage, the administration should consider scaling down the federal government. “They should shrink the government if they want it to be less of a consumer,” Lee argued. “The reason it’s the largest consumer is because it’s doing so many things it was probably never intended to do.”
In response to criticism, the Biden administration has provided some flexibility within the plan. Agencies involved in “national security” activities may apply for exemptions. According to the White House, “The head of an agency may exempt particular agency activities and related personnel, resources, and facilities from the provisions of this order when it is in the interest of national security, to protect intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure, or where necessary to protect undercover law enforcement operations from unauthorized disclosure.”
Despite these exemptions, the overarching criticism remains: in a time of rising inflation and national security concerns, many argue that the administration’s focus on eliminating single-use plastics is a symbolic gesture that fails to address the real issues facing American families and businesses.
