Trump reinstates plastic straws, reversing Biden-era ban
Trump, who previously sold plastic straws as part of his 2020 campaign merchandise, has long criticized paper straws, calling them ineffective and prone to disintegration.
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President Donald Trump has issued an executive order immediately overturning a previous government initiative aimed at replacing plastic straws with paper alternatives. The move effectively cancels a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden, who had framed plastic pollution as a critical environmental concern.
Trump, who previously sold plastic straws as part of his 2020 campaign merchandise, has long criticized paper straws, calling them ineffective and prone to disintegration. "We're bringing back plastic straws," he stated during a White House press briefing. "These paper ones fall apart, sometimes in seconds. It’s absurd."
The Biden administration had previously set a timeline for gradually eliminating plastic straws, along with single-use cutlery and packaging, from government purchases. Under Biden’s policy, these materials were to be phased out in federal operations by 2035. However, Trump’s new directive not only halts this transition but also instructs government agencies to cease purchasing paper straws altogether, pushing for a broader strategy to remove them nationwide.
Trump’s opposition to paper straws dates back years. His 2020 reelection campaign capitalized on the debate by selling "Trump" branded plastic straws at $15 per pack, generating nearly $500,000 in sales within weeks.
The use of disposable straws in the U.S. remains a contested issue. While some estimates suggest Americans go through around 500 million plastic straws daily, others argue that the real number is significantly lower. Several states and cities, including California, Oregon, New Jersey, and Seattle, have introduced policies restricting their use or requiring businesses to offer them only upon request.
While plastic straws contribute to ocean pollution and microplastic contamination, studies have raised concerns about paper alternatives. Some research suggests that paper straws contain high levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals," which persist in the environment and pose potential health risks.
As the debate continues, Trump's latest order marks a definitive policy shift, reinforcing his administration's preference for plastic over paper in federal consumption.
