Washington D.C. – – The Trump administration has formally revoked the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2009 “endangerment finding,” a pivotal decision that effectively dismantles the legal foundation for federal climate regulations in the United States. The move, announced on , represents the culmination of a long-standing effort to roll back environmental protections and prioritizes economic deregulation over climate action.
The 2009 endangerment finding, issued under the Obama administration, determined that greenhouse gases – including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – pose a threat to public health and welfare. This determination provided the EPA with the authority to regulate these emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other sources. The current action eliminates that authority, effectively halting federal efforts to curb planet-warming pollution.
Speaking from the White House’s Roosevelt Room alongside President Trump, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the decision as the “single largest deregulatory action in U.S. History.” Zeldin stated the move would save American taxpayers over $1.3 trillion by eliminating the Obama-era Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding and all subsequent federal GHG emission standards for vehicles and engines from model years 2012 to 2027 and beyond. The administration also eliminated “off-cycle credits,” including the widely criticized start-stop feature in vehicles.
President Trump characterized the endangerment finding as a “scam” and a “rip off of the country,” claiming it had nothing to do with public health. He further asserted that the regulations were “disastrous” and that repealing them would benefit American consumers and businesses. The administration’s action follows recent Supreme Court decisions – Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and West Virginia v. EPA – which have been interpreted as limiting the scope of federal agency authority.
The revocation of the endangerment finding is not a sudden shift in policy, but rather the fulfillment of a core tenet of the Trump administration’s agenda. As one source noted, the move was “preannounced in presidential rhetoric, conservative policy documents, and the hearings of his key appointees.” The decision underscores a more explicit and radical approach to climate policy, one that will likely prove difficult to reverse.
The implications of this decision extend far beyond the United States. The U.S., historically one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, plays a crucial role in global climate negotiations and efforts to limit global warming. Weakening U.S. Climate policy undermines international cooperation and could encourage other nations to scale back their own commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The rollback of vehicle emission standards is particularly significant. The EPA’s action eliminates rules designed to encourage the production of more fuel-efficient vehicles, including hybrids and electric cars. The administration’s move reverses a trend towards cleaner transportation and could lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
While the administration argues that the deregulation will lower costs for consumers and businesses, critics contend that it will exacerbate the impacts of climate change, leading to more frequent and severe weather events, rising sea levels, and other environmental consequences. The decision also raises concerns about air quality and public health, as reduced emission standards could lead to increased levels of air pollution.
The EPA’s action is expected to face legal challenges from environmental groups and state governments. However, the recent Supreme Court rulings may make it more difficult for opponents to successfully challenge the administration’s decision. The long-term consequences of this policy shift remain to be seen, but it represents a significant setback for U.S. Climate policy and global efforts to address climate change.
The administration’s move also eliminates all off-cycle credits, including those for the start-stop feature, a fuel-saving technology that automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped. This feature has been unpopular with some consumers, but environmental advocates argue that it plays a role in reducing emissions.
According to the EPA, the deregulatory action was the result of a major process that included “substantial public input and robust analysis of the law.” However, critics argue that the administration prioritized economic interests over environmental concerns and ignored the overwhelming scientific evidence of climate change. The decision underscores a fundamental disagreement over the role of government in addressing environmental challenges.
The dismantling of the endangerment finding also paves the way for the administration to overturn other regulations aimed at reducing climate pollution from power plants and oil and gas operations, although these will require separate regulatory processes. This broader effort to roll back environmental regulations is likely to continue throughout the remainder of the Trump administration.
