Trump signs order to boost efficiency in federal agencies

President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday designed to boost the environmental performance of federal agencies. 

The order mandates that federal agencies reduce the overall energy consumption of their buildings, implement waste prevention and recycling measures and reduce water consumption, among other measures.

“Were going to run government smoothly, efficiently, and on behalf of the very hardworking taxpayers — something that the taxpayers haven’t seen in a long time,” Trump said in a statement. 

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The measure aims to curb federal spending on energy and waters at its more than 350,000 buildings across the country. Last year, federal agencies spent more than $6 billion on energy for buildings and $635 million on water, the White House said. 

The measure also orders federal agencies to meet statutory requirements related to renewable energy and electricity. 

The order charges Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, General Services Administrator Emily Murphy and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, as well as the Council on Environmental Quality, to develop guidance and a timeline for federal agencies to implement the policies.