US energy department cracks down on workers' use of climate crisis language

Source: The Guardian

US energy department cracks down on workers’ use of climate crisis language

Efficiency employees reportedly told to avoid ‘climate change’ and similar terms in their work in latest clampdown

Dharna Noor
Tue 30 Sep 2025 18.55 BST
Last modified on Tue 30 Sep 2025 22.47 BST

The US Department of Energy has told employees in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to avoid using the words “climate change” in what seems to be the latest incident in a crackdown on discussing the climate crisis in the US government.

“Please ensure that every member of your team is aware that this is the latest list of words to avoid – and continue to be conscientious about avoiding any terminology that you know to be misaligned with the Administration’s perspectives and priorities,” says an email from an agency acting director seen by the Guardian.

Employees in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which is the government’s largest funder of carbon-slashing technologies, were told to avoid using the terms in both internal dealings and public-facing work.

“Whether you work directly on communications or not, this email applies to you,” says the email, which was first obtained by Politico.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/30/energy-department-climate-change-crisis-language