President Donald Trump signed an executive order that encourages the use of plastic drinking straws in the U.S., diverging from efforts by his predecessor, President Joe Biden, to phase out single-use plastics.
The big picture: The executive order reverses federal purchasing policies that promote paper straws and restrict plastic straws, directing agencies to cease buying paper straws and ensure they are no longer provided within federal buildings.
- This action counters a policy by the Biden administration to phase out federal purchases of single-use plastics, including straws, from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027 and from all federal operations by 2035.
Zoom out: Many U.S. states and cities have implemented bans on plastic straws, as part of wider efforts to combat single-use plastics, which include various food and beverage containers such as water bottles, takeout containers, and coffee lids.
What he’s saying: “It’s a ridiculous situation,” Trump told reporters. “We’re going back to plastic straws.”
