Under the guidance of a Trump-appointed official, the Department of Energy has implemented an extensive list of prohibited terms, some of which are generally seen as nonpartisan.
According to Politico, which reviewed the communication, the “words to avoid” were distributed via email to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) last Friday. “Make sure everyone on your team knows this is the most current list of restricted words,” wrote EERE special advisor Rachael Overbey.
Among the expressions that staff are instructed not to use are: climate change, green, decarbonization, energy transition, sustainability, sustainable, subsidies, tax breaks, tax credits, and carbon footprint.
The word “emissions” is also included in the list of barred terms. The report notes that, despite its neutral dictionary meaning, the word is seen as carrying a negative connotation. In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that greenhouse gases are not just emissions, but can also be regulated as air pollutants.
The EERE was created in the late 1970s following the consolidation of several federal agencies. Its formation was a reaction to the 1973 energy crisis, which caused oil prices to surge. The office’s mission was to encourage renewable energy and improve energy efficiency to help shield the U.S. economy from volatile price swings in commodities such as oil and gas.
President Trump and his administration have chosen to prioritize the growth of these traditional commodities in their economic strategy.
In both public remarks and official statements, the Trump administration has consistently labeled anything associated with the energy transition as the “green energy scam.” During a recent speech at the United Nations, Trump criticized nations worldwide for investing in solar, wind, and battery technologies.
“Your country is going to fail,” Trump declared.
Nonetheless, global spending on renewable energy hit a record high in the first half of 2025. Investments in offshore wind and distributed solar increased total investment by 10% over the previous year, reaching $386 billion, BloombergNEF reported.
