House GOP Budget Proposals Would Devastate Clean Energy Progress, Environmental Justice Initiatives

House GOP Budget Proposals Would Devastate Clean Energy Progress, Environmental Justice Initiatives

L4GG Warns of Direct Assault on Clean Air, Clean Water, and American Communities Through Proposed Cuts to IRA and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

WASHINGTON (May 13, 2025) — In response to the House Ways and Means Committee's draft tax bill and the broader Republican budget reconciliation proposals that would drastically cut clean energy and environmental justice programs, Jillian Blanchard, Vice President of the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program at Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), issued the following statement:

“The text for Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill is a direct assault on clean air, clean water, and the right of every American to live in a safe and healthy environment. It’s not just a budget cut—it’s a reckless, lawless attempt to strip funding from programs that Congress has supported on a bipartisan basis for decades. Republicans are trying to wipe out billions in climate funding that is creating jobs, reducing energy costs for everyday Americans, and building resilience in communities devastated by storms.

 They’re gutting clean energy tax credits across the board—slashing support for solar, wind, electric vehicles, home efficiency, and domestic manufacturing. By weaponizing the budget process, Republicans are using a sledgehammer and pretending it’s a scalpel, proposing complex eligibility measures and abruptly phasing out programs that will raise costs, kill jobs, and freeze new investments communities are just beginning to realize. 

This is a radical maneuver to destroy our advances on clean energy and environmental justice, cloaked in a misleading, bad-faith GOP argument that it only eliminates duplicative programs. It will have devastating, lasting consequences for our environment, our economy, and our health, allowing polluters and their allies in Congress to reverse decades of progress.””

— Jillian Blanchard, Vice President of Climate Change and Environmental Justice

National Law Day of Action: Over 10,000 Legal Professionals Stand United for the Rule of Law

On May 1, 2025, known as Law Day, history was made as the legal community came together in an unprecedented display of unity and purpose. Over 10,000 lawyers, judges, and legal professionals across 50+ cities participated in the National Law Day of Action, ceremonially reaffirming their oath to defend the Constitution and uphold the rule of law.

Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) and the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) were joined by other national partners ABA’s Checks and Balances project and Lawyers Defending American Democracy in providing national coordination and organization to the campaign. For weeks prior to law day, we assembled a coalition of national and local bar associations, legal affinity groups, and concerned lawyer-citizens who were responsible for producing events in more than 50 cities nationwide.

A Historic Gathering in Washington, D.C.

Law Day of Action 2025 - D.C.

On the iconic steps of the Supreme Court, more than 600 legal professionals gathered in a powerful display of solidarity. Produced by L4GG, the Washington, D.C. event served as the symbolic center of this nationwide movement, bringing together an impressive coalition of organizations including Alliance for Justice, American Constitution Society, the National Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and numerous D.C. based bar associations representing diverse communities.

The event featured an extraordinary lineup of speakers who underscored the gravity of the moment:

• Representative Mary Gay Scanlon spoke with the urgency of someone who has dedicated her career to defending constitutional rights.

• Wiley Adams, President of the National Bar Association, reminded attendees of lawyers' unique power and obligation to lead during democratic crises.

• Representative Jamie Raskin called upon the legal community to harness their training as a force for justice.

Together, these distinguished leaders stood with hundreds of attorneys as they collectively reaffirmed their oath to defend the Constitution—a symbolic yet profound act of professional commitment.

A Powerful Nationwide Movement

Law Day of Action 2025 - NYC

From the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. to courthouses across America, the message was clear and resolute: the legal profession stands as guardians of democracy and constitutional principles. In city after city, participants stood shoulder to shoulder, renewing their commitment to justice and equal protection under the law.

As Traci Feit Love, Founder and Executive Director of Lawyers for Good Government, declared while opening the D.C. event:

"Lawyers don't just respect the Constitution—we swear an oath to defend it. And when that oath is threatened, we show up, we speak out, and we stand together."

Traci Feit Love, Founder & ED of L4GG

Coast to Coast Unity

The groundswell of support spanned the entire country:

• New York City led with approximately 1,500-2,000 participants

• Washington State mobilized over 1,300 legal professionals

• San Francisco had approximately 1,200 participants

• Oakland, California gathered 500 attorneys and judges

• Minneapolis assembled 625 advocates for justice

• Boston and Portland, Maine each brought together 500 participants

• Philadelphia rallied 450 members of the legal community

Law Day of Action 2025 - Asheville, NC

In total, events in over 50 cities united the profession in this collective reaffirmation of core legal principles.

Voices from the Community

Legal leaders from across the political spectrum spoke with conviction about the profession's responsibility in this moment:

"The rule of law is about country, not party. Lawyers pledge fealty to the Constitution and nothing else." — Stuart Gerson, former Acting Attorney General under George H.W. Bush

"We are lawyers, we are the servants of the rule of law. We work in service of something greater than ourselves, and it has never felt more important to defend it." — Victoria Santoro, Massachusetts Bar Association President

"In our Constitutional system, we are the guardians of democracy. We are bulwark against tyranny and one-man rule. No one is above the law, and no one is below it." — Andrea Young, ACLU of Georgia

Law Day of Action 2025 - San Francisco

The diversity of participating organizations was equally impressive, with national groups like the American Constitution Society and National Bar Association joining local bar associations, public interest organizations, and specialty legal groups in a remarkable show of professional solidarity.

A Historic Moment

What made this day truly extraordinary was its scale and unity of purpose. From federal judges to law students, from corporate attorneys to public defenders, the legal community transcended traditional divides to emphasize the profession's foundational commitment to constitutional principles.

Law Day of Action 2025 - Philadelphia

On the right: Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari

As Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari reminded attendees: "Our system isn't perfect, but we all have a role in protecting it." She continued, invoking Benjamin Franklin's famous words near the site of the Constitutional Convention: "A republic – if you can keep it."

Looking Forward

This National Law Day of Action represents more than a single moment – it marks the beginning of a renewed commitment by the legal profession to actively defend democratic institutions and constitutional principles.

Law Day of Action 2025 - Dallas, TX

As Christian Menefee, Harris County Attorney, told attendees in Houston: "The Thurgood Marshall is right here in this group. The Ruth Bader Ginsberg is right here in this group. And it's up to each and every one of us to fight like hell in the courtroom to ensure we have the democracy that each and every one of us believes in."

This unprecedented gathering demonstrates that when constitutional values are at stake, the legal profession stands ready to leverage its unique role in society to protect the rule of law for all Americans.

For more information about the National Law Day of Action, click here.
To see the full video of the Washington, D.C. event, click here.

National Law Day of Action: Stand for the Rule of Law

National Law Day of Action: Stand for the Rule of Law

A Call to Reaffirm Our Oath and Defend Our Legal Foundations

Dear Colleagues,

In times when the cornerstones of American democracy face unprecedented challenges, our voices as legal professionals have never been more crucial. On Thursday, May 1, 2025, attorneys across the nation will gather for the National Law Day of Action to stand united in defense of judicial independence, the rule of law, and the independence of the legal profession.

Find an Event Near You

Events are being organized nationwide, with simultaneous demonstrations planned in cities across the country. Find and RSVP to an event near you using the map below.

Why This Matters

These aren't abstract legal concepts — they are the foundation upon which our entire system of justice rests. When judges face attacks for unpopular rulings, when legal professionals endure political pressure, and when public trust in our legal system erodes, every citizen's rights hang in the balance.

Reaffirm Your Oath

Law Day 2025 offers a powerful opportunity to publicly reaffirm the oath we all took when admitted to the bar. This symbolic act reminds us and our communities of our enduring commitment to uphold the Constitution and the principles of justice that form the bedrock of our legal system.

Join colleagues in a ceremonial oath reaffirmation at events nationwide, recommitting ourselves to the principles that unite us as a profession:

• Equality under the law

• Due process for all

• Protection of fundamental rights

• Defense of judicial independence

• Preservation of the independent legal profession

Join Us in Washington, DC

As our nation's capital and home to the highest court in the land, the Washington DC demonstration carries special significance. Stand with fellow attorneys, judges, and concerned citizens on the steps of the Supreme Court in a powerful visual representation of our commitment to the rule of law.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025

• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

• Location: Supreme Court of the United States, 1 First Street NE, Washington, DC

Why This Matters Now

The principles we defend are non-partisan. This isn't about specific cases or political outcomes—it's about protecting the process of justice itself. Erosion of judicial independence and the rule of law threatens democracy itself, affecting every citizen's ability to have their rights protected and their voices heard.

By standing together on May 1, we send a clear message that the legal profession remains united in its commitment to these fundamental principles. When we stand together, our collective voice becomes a powerful force for preserving the foundations of American justice.

Time is of the essence. Join us in this nationwide demonstration to protect what matters most.

Together, we create a nationwide wave of support for judicial independence, the rule of law, and the independence of the legal profession.

4.3.25 EMERGENCY WEBINAR - RECORDING AND ACTION ITEMS

We were thrilled to have 1600+ attorneys register for yesterday’s webinar on the unprecedented attacks facing our legal profession and democracy. We had 800+ people attend live, demonstrating that members of the legal community understand the gravity of this moment and are ready to take action.

We are witnessing what may be the most concerted effort to undermine the legal profession since the McCarthy era. The administration's targeted executive orders against law firms, investigations into diversity policies, attacks on judicial independence, and defiance of court orders represent a direct threat to our constitutional system.

The window for effective action is narrow, and it is now.

Four Concrete Actions You Can Take Today

Our collective power as legal professionals is immense, but only if we choose to exercise it. Here are four specific ways you can help defend our profession and democracy:

1. Participate in Law Day Actions on May 1, 2025

Express your interest in participating in or helping organize a rally at a federal courthouse in your city on May 1, 2025. Express your interest at L4GG.org/LawDay.

2. Join Our Movement with a Monthly Commitment

Make a sustaining contribution of $25 or more per month to the L4GG Action Fund (our 501c4 organization) at L4GG.org/JoinTheMovement. Your ongoing support will help us build the infrastructure needed for both immediate crisis response and long-term democratic renewal.

3. Subscribe to the Impact Docket

Receive bi-weekly concrete action items tailored for busy attorneys at L4GG.org/ImpactDocket. Whether you have 2 minutes or 2 hours, we'll provide meaningful ways for you to make your voice heard.

4. Spread the Word

Please share this email with at least 5 colleagues who care about defending our democracy. Additional ways to stay connected:

• Sign up to volunteer: L4GG.org/Survey

• Subscribe to emails and updates: L4GG.org/Subscribe

• Join our SMS list: Text "Community" to 771-203-4895

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As emphasized during our webinar, the only thing necessary for the triumph of authoritarianism is for principled lawyers to do nothing. What each of us chooses to do – or not do – in this moment will define not just our professional legacy but the future of American democracy itself.

Thank you for your commitment to upholding your oath to defend the Constitution. Together, we can make a difference.