Trump Rolls Back Paper Straw Policy, Declares Plastic is ‘Back’
On Monday, Donald Trump took a decisive stand against what he called a “ridiculous situation” the nationwide shift to paper straws.
Signing an executive order in the White House, Trump officially reversed a Biden-era policy that aimed to phase out federal purchases of single-use plastics, including straws, by 2027 for food service operations and 2035 for all federal agencies.
“We’re going back to plastic straws,” Trump declared while signing the order. “These things don’t work,” he said, holding up a paper straw. “I’ve had them many times, and on occasion, they break, they explode.”
Trump, a well-known Diet Coke enthusiast, has long voiced his disdain for paper straws. During his 2020 re-election campaign, his team even sold plastic straws on his official website, claiming that “liberal paper straws don’t work.”
While environmental advocates warn about the damage plastic straws cause to marine life, Trump dismissed these concerns. “I don’t think plastic is going to affect the shark very much as they’re… munching their way through the ocean,” he quipped.
White House staff secretary Will Scharf, who presented the order to Trump, argued that the push for paper straws had cost the government and businesses “an absolute ton of money” while leaving consumers frustrated. The order directs federal agencies to adjust procurement policies to allow plastic straws once again. “This is something that affects everyday Americans,” Scharf added.
The plastics industry enthusiastically welcomed Trump’s decision.
“Straws are just the beginning,” said Matt Seaholm, CEO of the Plastics Industry Association. “‘Back to Plastic’ is a movement we should all get behind.”
As plastic production continues to surge globally, efforts to regulate plastic waste remain contentious. A global summit last year failed to reach an agreement on addressing the issue, even as plastic production is expected to quadruple by 2050. But for now, at least in the U.S. federal government, plastic straws are here to stay.