The United States Department of Energy has removed roughly 6,000 web pages related to energy conservation, coinciding with a severe heatwave affecting large parts of the country. The deletions occurred shortly after Republican figures criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for urging residents to set air conditioners to 78 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce strain on the electrical grid.
Republican Criticism of AC Advice
Republicans including Senator Ted Cruz, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina denounced Mamdani's request as socialist and harmful, with Mace specifically calling it an attack on women in menopause. However, setting thermostats between 75 and 78 degrees during heatwaves has long been standard advice from the Department of Energy itself, and Republican governors in states like Texas—including current Governor Greg Abbott—have issued similar guidance in the past.
Scope of Deletions
The Trump administration's deletions were broad and indiscriminate. Removed pages included those supporting thermostat recommendations, as well as information on water conservation, types of insulation, and the department's solar decathlon challenge. The Internet Archive has preserved the deleted pages, ensuring public access remains possible.
Heatwave Impact
Temperatures in New York City exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit for four consecutive days, including two days above 100 degrees. Such extreme heat places significant strain on the electrical grid, especially during holiday weekends when more people are at home. Setting thermostats to 78 degrees can help prevent blackouts that would leave residents without air conditioning and vulnerable to heat-related illness. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), extreme heat causes more deaths annually in the United States than floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined.
