WASHINGTON, D.C. — Olympian Jessie Diggins visited Capitol Hill in 2026 to advocate for clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet. Diggins joined a coalition from Protect Our Winters, an athlete-driven environmental group, which sent representatives to Washington for meetings with lawmakers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Protect Our Winters is concerned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has weakened key climate, water, and pollution regulations since President Donald Trump returned to office. The EPA has revoked a scientific finding that underpinned the fight against climate change during the Trump administration and moved to roll back limits on toxic wastewater from coal-fired power plants. The agency also announced other cuts to federal limits on air and water pollution and is promoting fossil fuels. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency is "driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America's Golden Age." Zeldin added that the EPA's actions would save trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and hidden taxes.

Diggins carried her four Olympic medals during her visit. "I don't want to stick my head in the sand and ignore the world burning," she said. "I feel like I have a responsibility to use my voice to advocate for change." Diggins described bringing her medals to Washington as a "beautiful, full circle moment." She said, "And so that's why it's so important to me, because I want my great-grandkids to be able to build a snowman and try cross-country skiing someday, and be able go hiking and fishing and camping in the summer, and breathe clean air." Ben Gubits, vice president of campaigns and advocacy for Protect Our Winters, said, "We are really thinking about a long-term and positive vision for the future, and how do we rebuild these critical institutions beyond the Trump years." The Protect Our Winters coalition plans to meet with Democratic and Republican members in both chambers of Congress. Legal challenges to a range of EPA rule changes have been filed by states, cities, and public health and environmental groups.