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MERRI OK

yale law fedsoc JUSTIN JON S

mandy clint woods scott mason pjt 2025 epa fuckery

daren bakst

CGCN

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STORM

Employment History

Donald John Trump

General Counsel

Founder

Deputy General Counsel

Associate

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LI 6 26 NTBCW OTHER 2

justin-schwab

Experience

General Counsel

Council on Environmental Quality · Full-time

Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Founder

CGCN Law, PLLC

Jan 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 6 mos

Washington, District Of Columbia

United States Environmental Protection Agency

3 yrs

Washington DC-Baltimore Area

Mar 2017 - Dec 2019 · 2 yrs 10 mos

Jan 2017 - Mar 2017 · 3 mos

[Associate Baker & Hostetler LLP

Jan 2013 - Jan 2017 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Washington DC-Baltimore Area](https://www.linkedin.com/company/10459/)

Judicial Clerk

Utah Supreme Court

Jan 2012 - Dec 2012 · 1 yr

Salt Lake City, Utah

Judicial Clerk

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Aug 2010 - Aug 2011 · 1 yr 1 mo

Geneseo, NY/New York City, NY

[Yale Law School Doctor of Law (J.D.)

2007 – 2010](https://www.linkedin.com/school/4072/)

[University of California, Berkeley Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Classics

2001 – 2011](https://www.linkedin.com/school/2517/)

[Cornell University Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Classics

1997 – 2001](https://www.linkedin.com/school/3523/)

HMMN ACTIVIST?

Justin Schwab

Justin Schwab

Role: Contributor

Position: Founder, CGCN Law, PLLC

Background:

Justin Schwab is the founder of CGCN Law, a law practice in Washington, D.C., specializing in environmental, energy, and administrative law. Before founding CGCN Law, Schwab served as the Deputy General Counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2017 to 2019. In this role, he played a significant part in shaping key regulatory and policy decisions, particularly under the Trump administration.

Schwab has a robust legal background, having practiced at BakerHostetler’s D.C. office and clerked for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Utah Supreme Court. He holds a law degree from Yale Law School and a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Relation to Trump:

Justin Schwab’s role as Deputy General Counsel at the EPA during the Trump administration placed him at the center of many of the administration’s environmental deregulation efforts. His work directly supported the Trump administration’s agenda to roll back various environmental regulations, particularly those related to the Clean Air Act.

Scandals or Controversies:

There are no significant scandals directly associated with Justin Schwab. His tenure at the EPA and his legal work have been characterized by his commitment to regulatory reform and administrative law, particularly in areas aligned with conservative and deregulatory principles.

Sources

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Mandy Gunasekara on LinkedIn: CENTER FOR ENVTL ACCOUNTABILITY - EPA POWER PLANT COMMENTS

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:{:{Justin Schwab_ • 3rd+ • 3rd+Founder at CGCN Law * Former EPA Deputy General Counsel * Environmental, energy, administrative lawFounder at CGCN Law * Former EPA Deputy General Counsel * Environmental, energy, administrative law4mo • 4mo •](}:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-schwab?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAADQi5UBg_Ol0h2JXMaacFTv7ZuPJP7-YHk)}:

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60 pp on epa new source? humor?!

Many thanks to my co-author [Marc M.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-m-852a644/) for his help drafting the Center for Environmental Accountability's comments on EPA's power plant proposal. EPA claims unproven technologies are "adequately demonstrated"—we break down why that’s just not so.

Elaborating on my WSJ op-ed from May, the comments explain how EPA's proposed 15-year plan to remake the utility sector would exceed its authority under the Clean Air Act, trammel state prerogatives to set the generation mix within their borders, and undermine the accountability structure around electricity regulation just as the Biden Administration seeks to make the cost and reliability of electricity the single point of failure for energy policy.

The Clean Power Plan, and its demise in West Virginia v. EPA, generated major new doctrines in administrative law. What will round two bring?

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# Justin Schwab

3rd degree connection3rd

Founder at CGCN Law * Former EPA Deputy General Counsel * Environmental, energy, administrative law

CGCN Law, PLLC

Yale Law School

Washington, District of Columbia, United States Contact info

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Loaded 3 Posts posts

ICYMI: Is the EPA’s power plant proposal DOA? We discussed pros and cons, legal and policy, in a free-ranging and spirited exchange on what’s shaping up to be a major environmental and energy matter. Video available here:

**The EPA’s Proposed Power Plant Rule: Will it Survive in the Courts?** youtube.com

Next Monday 9/25 at 1 Eastern, join [Jeff Holmstead](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-holmstead-80814118/), Kevin Poloncarz, and me as Daren Bakst moderates our discussion of EPA's recent proposal to regulate greenhouse gases from new and existing power plants and the many legal and policy issues it raises. Last year the Supreme Court ruled that the 2015 Clean Power Plan violated the Clean Air Act, resulting in the Court's formal recognition of the "major questions" doctrine. Join us as we consider whether this new round of regulation will meet a similar fate.…show more

**The EPA’s Proposed Power Plant Rule: Will it Survive in the Courts? - Regulatory Transparency Project** rtp.fedsoc.org • 1 min read

Many thanks to my co-author [Marc M.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-m-852a644/) for his help drafting the Center for Environmental Accountability's comments on EPA's power plant proposal. EPA claims unproven technologies are "adequately demonstrated"—we break down why that’s just not so.

Elaborating on my WSJ op-ed from May, the comments explain how EPA's proposed 15-year plan to remake the utility sector would exceed its authority under the Clean Air Act, trammel state prerogatives to set the generation mix within their borders, and undermine the accountability structure around electricity regulation just as the Biden Administration seeks to make the cost and reliability of electricity the single point of failure for energy policy.

The Clean Power Plan, and its demise in West Virginia v. EPA, generated major new doctrines in administrative law. What will round two bring?

…show more

**CENTER FOR ENVTL ACCOUNTABILITY - EPA POWER PLANT COMMENTS** 58 pages

Show all posts

:{:{Experience}:

CGCN Law, PLLCCGCN Law, PLLCJan 2020 - Present · 4 yrsJan 2020 - Present · 4 yrsWashington, District Of ColumbiaWashington, District Of Columbia

AssociateAssociate

Baker & Hostetler LLPBaker & Hostetler LLPJan 2013 - Jan 2017 · 4 yrs 1 moJan 2013 - Jan 2017 · 4 yrs 1 moWashington D.C. Metro AreaWashington D.C. Metro Area

Utah Supreme CourtUtah Supreme CourtJan 2012 - Dec 2012 · 1 yrJan 2012 - Dec 2012 · 1 yrSalt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, Utah

United States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitAug 2010 - Aug 2011 · 1 yr 1 moAug 2010 - Aug 2011 · 1 yr 1 moGeneseo, NY/New York City, NYGeneseo, NY/New York City, NY

:{:{Education}:

Yale Law SchoolYale Law School Doctor of Law (J.D.)Doctor of Law (J.D.)2007 - 20102007 - 2010

University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), ClassicsDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Classics2001 - 20112001 - 2011

Show all 3 educations

:{:{Skills}:

Endorsed by Justin Savage who is highly skilled at thisEndorsed by Justin Savage who is highly skilled at this](https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-schwab/overlay/urn:li:fsd_skill:%28ACoAAADQi5UBg_Ol0h2JXMaacFTv7ZuPJP7-YHk,359745432%29/endorsers?profileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAADQi5UBg_Ol0h2JXMaacFTv7ZuPJP7-YHk&tabIndex=1&modalTabIndex=1)

Show all 14 skills

:{:{Recommendations}:

ReceivedReceivedGivenGiven

[Shaunda McNeillShaunda McNeill · 3rdThird degree connection

Civil & Employment LitigatorCivil & Employment LitigatorApril 5, 2013, Shaunda worked with Justin on the same teamApril 5, 2013, Shaunda worked with Justin on the same team](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunda-mcneill)

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Last week, Doug Ericksen, communications director for Trump's EPA transition team, told NPR that the agency planned to review all of its scientists' studies on a "case by case basis" prior to publication. Employees were also told to "scrub" EPA's climate change web pages, although the administration backed off that charge. Ericksen told Bloomberg BNA that the agency plans to restore full communications rights, including social media, "as soon as possible."

Until we learn more, here's what we do know about the beachhead team and some notable affiliations, mapped out using the LittleSis platform.

view this map on LittleSis

Koch and Coal Connections

Charles Munozis the White House liaison to the EPA landing team and was a top Trump organizer in his home state of Nevada. Munoz helped launch the Nevada chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a political advocacy group funded by the Kochs.

David Schnare, who has waged intimidation campaigns against climate scientists, worked for 33 years at the EPA before joining a number of Koch-affiliated entities.

Schnare is director of the the Free Market Environmental Law Clinic at George Mason University, which serves as the official attorney for the Energy and Environment Legal Institute. Both are funded extensively by Donors Capital Fund and Donors Trust. Schnare is also an energy policy expert at the Heartland Institute.

David Kreutzer was a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a group funded by foundations controlled by Koch Industries

After working at the EPA during the George W. Bush Administration, George Sugiyama lobbied for the National Mining Association. Sugiyama also served as legal adviser to the Republican minority, led by Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, on the Senate environment committee. Inhofe is arguably the best-known climate science denier in Congress and famously declared climate change to be a "hoax."

Washington State's Worst on Climate

Two Washington state officials, described as the state's "most radical small government lawmakers," have been assigned key posts on the beachhead team. Don Benton, who once introduced legislation based on Agenda 21 conspiracy theories, is the Senior White House Advisor to the EPA transition. And Doug Ericksen is serving as communications director for the transition team.

Described by the Seattle Times as "an ally of the fossil-fuel industry," Doug Ericksen was named by Washington Conservation Voters as among the state's "Dirty Dozen" worst politicians.

Ericksen wants to make it a felony for oil-by-rail protests to block train tracks, describing it as "economic terrorism," although the Seattle Times notes that Ericksen's motive is "punishing environmentalists, tribal activists and others who have illegally obstructed oil and coal trains, pipelines and similar projects." The Times notes, "More than going after individual protesters,Ericksen said the legislation's goal is to target wealthy, liberal donors, such as billionaires George Soros or Tom Steyer and organizations such as the Sierra Club, for sponsoring disruptive demonstrations. They could be held liable for damages under the bill."

Shannon Murphy, head of the Washington Conservation Voters, said, "Sen. Ericksen's and Benton's environmental records speak for themselves. They are both climate deniers who have consistently voted against protecting clean air and water for communities across the state."

The Rest of the Team

Patrick Davisran Trump's campaign in Colorado and before that was accused of defrauding a wealthy super PAC by steering money to fake organizations "run" by Davis and his friends.

Layne Bangerter headed the Trump campaign in Idaho and most recently worked with Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), whose website claims that the cause of changes to the Earth's climate "is ultimately not well-understood and is a matter of vigorous debate." Koch Industries donated $40,000 to Crapo's campaign from 2013-2014.

Justin Schwab is serving as the main legal advisor and is currently an attorney at the corporate law firm Baker Hostetler in Washington, DC.

Holly Greaves is working on budget issues and was most recently a public accountant for KPMG, which works with a number of oil, gas and utility industry clients.

Reposted with permission from our media associate DeSmogBlog.

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[### Justin Schwab

The Federalist Society

https://fedsoc.org › bio › justin-schwab-1](https://fedsoc.org/bio/justin-schwab-1)

Justin Schwab is the founder of CGCN Law, a law ... He received his B.A. from Brigham Young University, summa cum laude, and his J.D. from Yale Law School.Read more

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AI Overview

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Justin Schwab is an environmental lawyer and founder of CGCN Law who has deep ties to conservative legal and political networks. He earned his J.D. from ⁠Yale Law School and is a frequent contributor to the ⁠Federalist Society.

His career intersects the intersection of conservative policy, environmental law, and corporate advocacy:

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The Federalist Society

The Federalist Society

Justin Schwab - The Federalist Society

Jul 18, 2024 — Justin Schwab is the founder of CGCN Law, a law ... He received his B.A. from Brigham Young University, summa cum laude, and his J...

The Federalist Society

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