The Department of Energy has expanded its internal “list of words to avoid,” instructing staff at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy not to use terms such as “climate change,” “green,” or “decarbonization.” The directive, issued Friday and obtained, highlights the administration’s ongoing effort to steer language away from acknowledging the impact of global warming.
The restriction comes despite the fact that these very terms are central to EERE’s work. As the government’s biggest backer of technologies designed to cut heat-trapping emissions and reduce harmful pollution, the office plays a central role in addressing environmental challenges. Yet the Trump administration has consistently moved to undermine or minimize references to climate change.
“Please ensure that every member of your team is aware that this is the latest list of words to avoid — and continue to be conscientious about avoiding any terminology that you know to be misaligned with the Administration’s perspectives and priorities,” read the email from acting external affairs director Rachel Overbey.
The guidance extends across both public and internal communications, including reports, briefings, and even requests for information tied to federal funding opportunities.
Beyond “climate change” and “green,” staff have also been instructed to stop using the word “emissions” to avoid suggesting a negative connotation. Other barred terms include “energy transition,” “sustainability/sustainable,” “‘clean’ or ‘dirty’ energy,” “Carbon/CO2 ‘Footprint’” and “Tax breaks/tax credits/subsidies.”
The DOE has not issued a public response to questions about the policy shift.
This move follows President Donald Trump’s sharp rebuke of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week. “I’ve been right about everything and I’m telling you that if you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail,” he declared on Tuesday.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has also leaned into climate skepticism, promoting a report he commissioned that downplayed the role emissions play in extreme weather. Wright endorsed some of its most controversial arguments, including the claim that the potential benefits of a warmer planet are routinely underestimated.
The Department of Energy has already taken steps to curb renewable energy support. Just last week, Wright canceled $13 billion in renewable project funding while attacking long-standing subsidies for wind and solar. “If you can’t rock on your own after 33 years, maybe that’s not a business that’s going places,” he said at a Wednesday press event.
