Big Oil is Not Above the Law. And We’re Going to Keep It That way.

Everyone knows this song by now: Trump and the GOP [are preparing a massive payoff to their fossil fuel donors.](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/fossil-fuel-industry-donors-see-major-returns-trumps-policies)

Multiple states, along with municipal and tribal governments, are [filing tobacco industry-style lawsuits targeting the fossil fuel industry to recover damages for climate disasters](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26102025/trump-republicans-big-oil-climate-liability/). Meanwhile, New York and Vermont have passed climate polluters pay laws, forcing them to help pick up the bill for the mess they’ve made, and [plenty of state legislators are looking to follow in their footsteps](https://susanrogan.substack.com/p/pass-polluter-pays-laws-for-climate).

In response, Big Oil has lobbied MAGA to pass a federal liability shield based on the one that currently protects gun manufacturers, giving them [total legal immunity](https://click.everyaction.com/k/129839727/615719835/2041482908?sourceid=1112015&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzk3NjI4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjExZjBmZjNmLWZhM2MtZjExMS04ZWYyLTAwMGQzYTE0YjY0MCIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZmx1ZHdpZzEyQHlhaG9vLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=mnddh5o7KAhtTvKnnd82ZAWt1dOrgjiHR_JWpPDPC5E=&emci=5f36fa98-963a-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=11f0ff3f-fa3c-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=3537269) from any laws or lawsuits that could hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) [introduced a bill last week that would provide a “liability shield” for Big Oil.](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/republicans-unveil-climate-liability-shield-bill-for-oil-gas)

The American Petroleum Institute—the largest oil and gas trade lobbying group in the U.S.—[announced](https://click.everyaction.com/k/129839728/615719836/1224923115?sourceid=1112015&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzk3NjI4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjExZjBmZjNmLWZhM2MtZjExMS04ZWYyLTAwMGQzYTE0YjY0MCIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZmx1ZHdpZzEyQHlhaG9vLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=mnddh5o7KAhtTvKnnd82ZAWt1dOrgjiHR_JWpPDPC5E=&emci=5f36fa98-963a-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=11f0ff3f-fa3c-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=3537269) that stopping state climate lawsuits and climate superfund laws is one of their top legislative priorities in 2026. Sixteen Republican attorneys general even proposed a [game plan](https://click.everyaction.com/k/129839729/615719837/1221828207?sourceid=1112015&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzk3NjI4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjExZjBmZjNmLWZhM2MtZjExMS04ZWYyLTAwMGQzYTE0YjY0MCIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZmx1ZHdpZzEyQHlhaG9vLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=mnddh5o7KAhtTvKnnd82ZAWt1dOrgjiHR_JWpPDPC5E=&emci=5f36fa98-963a-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=11f0ff3f-fa3c-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=3537269) for how the Trump administration could shield fossil fuel companies modeled on the [shameful 2005 law protecting gun manufacturers from lawsuits](https://click.everyaction.com/k/129839730/615719838/-2090983241?sourceid=1112015&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzk3NjI4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjExZjBmZjNmLWZhM2MtZjExMS04ZWYyLTAwMGQzYTE0YjY0MCIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZmx1ZHdpZzEyQHlhaG9vLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=mnddh5o7KAhtTvKnnd82ZAWt1dOrgjiHR_JWpPDPC5E=&emci=5f36fa98-963a-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=11f0ff3f-fa3c-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=3537269). State-level immunity bills for the fossil fuel industry have already been introduced in [Oklahoma](https://click.everyaction.com/k/129839732/615719840/-1761517354?sourceid=1112015&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzk3NjI4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjExZjBmZjNmLWZhM2MtZjExMS04ZWYyLTAwMGQzYTE0YjY0MCIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZmx1ZHdpZzEyQHlhaG9vLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=mnddh5o7KAhtTvKnnd82ZAWt1dOrgjiHR_JWpPDPC5E=&emci=5f36fa98-963a-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=11f0ff3f-fa3c-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=3537269), [Louisiana](https://click.everyaction.com/k/129839733/615719841/-1698966738?sourceid=1112015&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzk3NjI4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjExZjBmZjNmLWZhM2MtZjExMS04ZWYyLTAwMGQzYTE0YjY0MCIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZmx1ZHdpZzEyQHlhaG9vLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=mnddh5o7KAhtTvKnnd82ZAWt1dOrgjiHR_JWpPDPC5E=&emci=5f36fa98-963a-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=11f0ff3f-fa3c-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=3537269), and [Tennessee](https://click.everyaction.com/k/129839734/615719842/1121380426?BillNumber=SB2560&GA=114&sourceid=1112015&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzk3NjI4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjExZjBmZjNmLWZhM2MtZjExMS04ZWYyLTAwMGQzYTE0YjY0MCIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZmx1ZHdpZzEyQHlhaG9vLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=mnddh5o7KAhtTvKnnd82ZAWt1dOrgjiHR_JWpPDPC5E=&emci=5f36fa98-963a-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=11f0ff3f-fa3c-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=3537269) as part of the larger coordinated effort to strip communities of their right to take Big Oil to court – [Utah has even passed one](https://click.everyaction.com/k/129839731/615719839/-1329325613?sourceid=1112015&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAxNi8xLzk3NjI4IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjExZjBmZjNmLWZhM2MtZjExMS04ZWYyLTAwMGQzYTE0YjY0MCIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiZmx1ZHdpZzEyQHlhaG9vLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=mnddh5o7KAhtTvKnnd82ZAWt1dOrgjiHR_JWpPDPC5E=&emci=5f36fa98-963a-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=11f0ff3f-fa3c-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=3537269).

**🫱🏻‍🫲🏿 Here’s a few ways we’re pushing back: 🫱🏾‍🫲🏼**

* **They’re hoping to sneak this bill by us in Congress. We’re not going to let them. We can find** [**call scripts**](https://5calls.org/issue/big-oil-climate-crisis-immunity/?utm_source=roganslist) **and** [**an email tool**](https://secure.ucs.org/a/2025-congress-no-immunity-big-oil?utm_source=roganslist) **to urge our reps to block it** [**here**](https://5calls.org/issue/big-oil-climate-crisis-immunity/?utm_source=roganslist) **and** [**here**](https://secure.ucs.org/a/2025-congress-no-immunity-big-oil?utm_source=roganslist)**.**
* **The Sierra Club has built an** [**easy tool for submitting letters to the editor**](https://win.newmode.net/sierraclub/makepolluterspaynoimmunity?utm_source=roganslist) **to our local paper warning about this effort, along with base language we can start with.** [**Let’s put it to work here**](https://win.newmode.net/sierraclub/makepolluterspaynoimmunity?utm_source=roganslist)**.**
* **We can find a social media toolkit to spread the word about Big Oil’s demand for immunity** [**here**](http://socialpresskit.com/no-immunity-for-big-oil/?utm_source=roganslist)**.**
* **Our cities and counties can approve local resolutions calling on Congress to reject this giveaway. We can find a draft and an action plan for passing one** [**here**](https://www.noimmunityforbigoil.org/?utm_source=roganslist)**.**
* **Activists are circulating a national petition against immunity for the fossil fuel industry, hoping to get 100,000 Americans on board before the end of the month – we have 34,000 to go.** [**We can sign here**](https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-not-to-let-polluters-off-the-hook-for-climate-damage?source=roganslist)**.**