WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning federal agencies from using paper straws, declaring they "don't work" and pushing for a full return to plastic.

"It's a ridiculous situation. We are going back to plastic straws," Trump said as he signed the order, which reverses Biden-era policies aimed at phasing out single-use plastics in government operations. The directive instructs federal agencies to stop purchasing paper straws and ensure they are no longer provided in government buildings.

Trump has long criticized paper straws and even sold reusable plastic straws during his 2019 reelection campaign. His executive order directly targets a Biden administration policy that sought to eliminate single-use plastics from federal operations by 2035. Over the weekend, Trump declared Biden's policy "DEAD!" in a social media post.

Environmental advocates have argued that plastic straws contribute to ocean pollution and harm marine life, but Trump dismissed those concerns.

"I don't think that plastic is going to affect the shark very much as they are eating, as they are munching their way through the ocean," he said.

Plastic pollution is a significant global issue. Experts say that every minute, the equivalent of one garbage truck's worth of plastic enters the ocean, breaking down into microplastics that have been found in wildlife and even human tissue. Many multinational companies have phased out plastic straws and other single-use plastics as part of their sustainability goals.

Christy Leavitt, Oceana's plastics campaign director, criticized Trump's decision, calling it more about political messaging than problem-solving.

"President Trump is moving in the wrong direction on single-use plastics," she said. "The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis, and we can no longer ignore one of the biggest environmental threats facing our oceans and planet."

The plastics industry, however, welcomed Trump's move.

"Straws are just the beginning," said Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association. "‘Back to Plastic' is a movement we should all get behind."

According to the Turtle Island Restoration Network, over 390 million plastic straws are used daily in the U.S., and they take at least 200 years to decompose.

Meanwhile, global efforts to curb plastic waste continue. More than 100 nations are working on a treaty to limit plastic production and improve cleanup and recycling. U.S. manufacturers have urged Trump to remain engaged in negotiations, but his administration has shifted focus toward maintaining plastic use.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf, presenting the executive order to Trump, reinforced the message:

"The push for paper straws has cost the government and private industry an absolute ton of money and left consumers wildly dissatisfied. It really is something that affects ordinary Americans in their everyday lives."