WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) expressed support for President Donald Trump’s recent memorandum reversing previous executive actions targeting the Lower Snake River dams.
The memorandum revokes the Biden administration’s directive aimed at removing the dams, which Newhouse argued would have jeopardized power grid reliability and increased energy costs.
“Throughout my time in Congress, I have stood firm in my support for the Lower Snake River Dams and the critical role they play in our region’s economy,” Rep. Newhouse said in a release.
The memorandum also directs various federal agencies to withdraw from agreements linked to the Biden administration’s executive action, including a December 2023 Memorandum of Understanding.
These agencies will collaborate with the Council on Environmental Quality to revise environmental review processes and save federal funds.
The original agreement, supported by the Biden administration, planned over $1 billion in salmon recovery efforts and development of clean energy projects to replace hydropower from the dams.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington expressed strong disapproval, stating Trump’s decision “couldn’t be more shortsighted,” Murray said in a release.
The construction of major dams on the Columbia River, including the Grand Coulee and Bonneville dams, began in the 1930s.
These projects were initiated during the Great Depression, providing jobs, hydropower and improved navigation.
The dams enabled Lewiston, Idaho, to become the most inland seaport on the West Coast. Additionally, many farmers in the region depend on barges to transport their crops.
