US President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning the use of paper straws in federal agencies, declaring that they “don’t work” and calling for a return to plastic alternatives. The move reverses a Biden-era policy aimed at phasing out single-use plastics from federal operations.
“It’s a ridiculous situation. We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump said while signing the order, which instructs federal agencies to halt the purchase and distribution of paper straws in government buildings. The decision effectively scraps President Joe Biden’s initiative to eliminate single-use plastics, including straws, from federal food services by 2027 and from all operations by 2035.
Trump, who has long criticised paper straws, reaffirmed his stance over the weekend, posting on social media that Biden’s policy was “DEAD!” His 2019 reelection campaign even sold Trump-branded plastic straws as a political statement against restrictions on single-use plastics.
Environmental advocates argue that plastic straws contribute to pollution and threaten marine life, with experts warning that plastic waste, including straws, breaks down into harmful microplastics. Christy Leavitt, plastics campaign director at Oceana, called Trump’s decision misguided. “The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis, and we can no longer ignore one of the biggest environmental threats facing our oceans and our planet today,” she said.
Despite widespread bans on plastic straws in various US states and cities, Trump dismissed environmental concerns, stating, “I don’t think that plastic is going to affect the shark very much as they’re eating, as they’re munching their way through the ocean.”
The plastics industry has welcomed the decision. “Straws are just the beginning,” said Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association. “‘Back to Plastic’ is a movement we should all get behind.”
According to the Straws Turtle Island Restoration Network, Americans use over 390 million plastic straws daily, with each straw taking around 200 years to decompose. Environmental groups have urged consumers to reduce plastic use to prevent further harm to wildlife.
The global plastic pollution crisis has led to ongoing negotiations for an international treaty to limit plastic production and improve recycling efforts. Talks stalled last year in South Korea but are set to resume as more than 100 countries push for stricter regulations.
Meanwhile, US manufacturers have called on Trump to stay engaged in the negotiations while reconsidering Biden’s approach, which emphasized redesigning plastics, increasing recycling, and promoting reusable materials.
White House staff secretary Will Scharf, who presented the order to Trump, claimed the push for paper straws had been costly and unpopular. “It really is something that affects ordinary Americans in their everyday lives,” he said.