Trump EPA Seeks to Revoke Legal Basis for U.S. Greenhouse Gas Regulation

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it will rescind the 2009 EPA “endangerment finding” that underpins all U.S. greenhouse gas regulations, citing limits on agency power and economic costs.

Speaking at a car dealership in Indiana, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Energy Secretary Chris Wright framed the repeal as the largest deregulatory effort in U.S. history. The proposal, now open for public comment, would eliminate regulations on emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other sources, which they claim would save $54 billion annually.

Zeldin argued that a 2024 Supreme Court decision limited the EPA’s regulatory authority and emphasized that only Congress can direct federal climate action.

Environmental groups condemned the move, calling it a threat to both public health and global climate efforts. Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen warned, “U.S. efforts to address climate change are over.”

The move contradicts global climate norms, including a recent International Court of Justice opinion and the Paris Agreement. California regulators called it “polluter fantasyland,” while some industry leaders welcomed regulatory relief.

Legal challenges are expected.

Sources:

• Reuters

• The Hill