Trump Administration Abandons Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement—Choosing a No Win Scenario for the Northwest
Today, the Trump administration announced its decision to withdraw from the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement (RCBA), abandoning an unprecedented opportunity to restore endangered salmon and steelhead and modernize the region’s energy infrastructure in partnership with Columbia Basin Tribes and the states of Washington and Oregon.
The Columbia Snake River Campaign issued the following statement in response:
“We are disappointed but not deterred. Salmon don’t have time for politics, so we must press on,” said Kayeloni Scott, Executive Director of the Columbia Snake River Campaign. “What's truly disheartening is witnessing a few misguided actors celebrate the preservation of a status quo that offers no wins—not to energy customers, to Tribes, to fishing communities, nor to endangered orcas. But we’ve been here before, and we are not giving up. These icons of the Northwest still require immediate action if we are to ensure their survival.”
The RCBA represented an unprecedented collaborative framework between Tribes, states, and federal agencies to chart a path forward for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin, one that included investment in Northwest infrastructure, affordable renewable energy, and fulfillment of long-standing promises to Tribal Nations.
By rescinding the RCBA, the Trump administration is choosing to saddle Northwest residents with the ongoing costs of maintaining outdated energy infrastructure that cannot meet future demand, while the salmon that sustain Northwest fishing economies, ecosystems, and Tribal cultures continue to decline—cutting off regional prosperity at the knees.
The Columbia Snake River Campaign will continue its efforts, organizing communities, working with Tribal partners, and galvanizing Congressional leadership towards comprehensive solutions, like those offered in the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative. The salmon are out of time, and extinction is not an option.
