The Trump administration is facing a new lawsuit over its decision to remove federal webpages that provided critical information to farmers on how to adapt to climate change. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) and two environmental groups, alleges that the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) removal of climate change references from its websites harms organic farmers and threatens their livelihoods.

Since President Donald Trump took office, the USDA has removed "scores of vitally important webpages" that mention climate change, the lawsuit claims. The administration has been accused of racing to destroy public resources that address climate change and civil rights, sparking legal battles to bring those webpages back. Trump has repeatedly called climate change a "hoax" and has abandoned US efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels that are causing climate change.

The plaintiffs in the suit argue that they have already seen the effects of climate change on their farms and had relied on the information on USDA websites to prepare for those consequences. The lawsuit cites the removal of an online tool called the "Climate Risk Viewer," which showed the impacts of climate change on rivers and water sheds, and how that might affect future water supplies. The tool vanished along with other webpages shortly after USDA Director of Digital Communications Peter Rhee sent an email to staff directing them to "identify and archive or unpublish any landing pages focused on climate change."

The administration also removed information about how to access funding for "climate-smart farming," including a webpage for a loan program that supports "sustainable agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions … and enhance the resilience of farming operations to climate change." NOFA-NY used those federal webpages to help farmers find funding and share advice through its free "farmer helpline."

The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration has violated three federal laws, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Paperwork Reduction Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The USDA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, and the Department of Justice declined to comment.

This is not the first time the Trump administration has faced legal challenges over its removal of climate change information from government websites. Earlier this month, the administration brought some federal webpages back online to comply with a court order after Doctors for America (DFA), which represents physicians and medical students, filed suit over health data taken off government websites.

The lawsuit highlights the ongoing battle between the Trump administration and environmental groups over climate change policy. The administration's actions have sparked widespread criticism from scientists, environmentalists, and farmers, who argue that the removal of critical information is harming their ability to adapt to climate change.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of climate change policy in the US. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could force the Trump administration to restore the removed webpages and provide critical information to farmers and other stakeholders. The ruling could also set a precedent for future legal challenges to the administration's climate change policies.

As the world grapples with the devastating impacts of climate change, the importance of access to accurate and reliable information cannot be overstated. The Trump administration's actions have sparked a national conversation about the role of government in addressing climate change, and the need for transparency and accountability in policymaking.