The Department of Energy deleted more than 1,600 webpages from its Energy Saver section by July 3, eliminating consumer resources for home energy audits, weatherization tips, and thermostat recommendations. The removal included guidance suggesting residents maintain thermostats between 75 and 78 degrees. The deletions occurred amid a broader pattern of federal agencies removing climate and efficiency-related information from public websites.
The timing of the webpage removal raised questions about potential political motivations. The deletions coincided with New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s request that residents set air conditioning to 78 degrees during a heat wave, which drew criticism from Republican officials. Additionally, on July 2, the Energy Department announced a proposed rule to restrict future appliance energy efficiency standards, characterizing existing regulations as “Green New Scam appliance mandates.”
According to analysis cited in reporting on the removal, the affected webpages received approximately 160,000 views over a 30-day period during summer heat waves. The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative noted that the scale of the removal was unprecedented for the Department of Energy, with observers pointing out that the agency typically removes website information in conjunction with regulatory announcements to limit public access during comment periods.
The removal follows similar deletions of other climate-related federal resources. Last summer, the government discontinued its website hosting the National Climate Assessment, and Climate.gov, which presented climate science research in accessible formats, also disappeared. Energy Saver had provided similar services by translating technical efficiency information into actionable consumer advice regarding appliance selection, roof installation, and home energy conservation.
The Department of Energy did not respond to inquiries about the webpage removals. Some analysts suggested the deletions align with the Trump administration’s “energy dominance” messaging, which frames fossil fuel consumption as consistent with American values. However, other experts noted that technical information directly related to appliance standards programs remained available on the department’s website, complicating definitive conclusions about the motivation behind specific removals.
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