The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) coordinates federal environmental efforts working closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives.

In addition, the President created a new position, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, and directed her to coordinate environmental, energy, climate, transport, and related matters for the federal government. Representative Paul Broun (R-GA) offered an amendment to cut off salaries for the Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change and her deputy as well as all the employees of the Council on Environmental Quality. The goal of defunding these positions was to weaken the Obama administration's efforts to address climate change and transition to clean energy sources.

On July 16, Broun's amendment, offered to the FY 2010 Financial Services appropriations bill, failed 149-282 (House roll call vote 558). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.