Overview

• The Biden-era pact reached in late 2023 involved Washington, Oregon and four tribes working to restore salmon runs and develop clean energy to replace dam power if removals proceed.
• Under the agreement, the federal government committed to investing over $1 billion across ten years to rebuild native salmon, steelhead and other fish stocks vital to indigenous cultures and regional ecosystems.
• In a June 12 memorandum, Trump labeled the plan “radical environmentalism” and emphasized preserving hydropower from the Snake River dams as a source of baseload power.
• Yakama Tribal Council Chair Gerald Lewis and environmental organizations condemned the withdrawal as a breach of treaty rights, with Earthjustice pledging to pursue alternate legal and restoration avenues.
• Democratic lawmakers and conservation groups warned that abandoning the deal risks further declines in salmon that underpin regional fisheries and imperiled orca populations.