Trump Policies Put America’s Clean Energy Jobs and Economic Growth at Risk
The future of America’s renewable energy industry—and the millions of clean energy jobs it supports—is under threat from recent policy shifts by the Trump administration. A new report from national nonpartisan business group E2 warns that federal rollbacks on clean energy support are already driving widespread job losses in wind, solar, and other fast-growing energy transition sectors.
Over the past decade, clean energy jobs in the United States consistently outpaced employment growth in conventional energy sectors. In 2024 alone, nearly 100,000 new positions were created across renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation—bringing the nationwide total to 3.56 million jobs. More than 80% of all new energy jobs last year came from clean energy.
But this upward trend is now reversing. According to the E2 report, “recent policy actions by Congress and the Trump administration have already resulted in major job losses in the industry, with more expected to come.”
“Clean energy was one of the hottest and most promising job sectors in the nation at the end of 2024,” said Bob Keefe, E2’s Executive Director. “Now, thanks to regressive policies, America’s clean energy job growth is at serious risk—and with it, our overall economy.”
Since President Trump took office, nearly $19 billion worth of wind and solar power projects have been cancelled, according to U.S. consultancy Atlas Public Policy. The sharp reduction in federal support—through subsidy cuts and weakened regulatory backing—has triggered bankruptcies, collapsing stock prices, and project cancellations totalling $18.6 billion.
The shift has left clean energy companies struggling, communities losing good-paying jobs, and America’s leadership in renewable energy hanging in the balance. With local opposition to new projects adding to the uncertainty, industry leaders warn that without strong, consistent federal policy, the United States risks falling behind in the global clean energy race.
