EPA Slashes Climate Rules in Historic Deregulatory Blitz

WASHINGTON — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin stood beside President Trump in the White House Roosevelt Room on Friday to announce the single largest deregulatory action in American history, eliminating the Obama-era 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding and all federal GHG emission standards for vehicles and engines from model years 2012 through 2027 and beyond.[3] The final rule saves taxpayers over $1.3 trillion by repealing compliance programs, credit provisions and reporting obligations tied to vehicle GHG regulations, which the EPA now deems outside its statutory authority under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act.[3] Zeldin declared, 'Today is the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen. We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion.'[4] The sweeping initiative targets 31 key regulations, including reconsiderations of the Clean Power Plan 2.0 for power plants, Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal plants, and rules throttling oil and gas operations like OOOOb/c.[1][4] Additional actions overhaul the Particulate Matter 2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards, multiple National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, the Regional Haze Program, and Biden-era Social Cost of Carbon calculations.[4] The EPA also plans to terminate environmental justice and DEI programs, redirect enforcement to core missions, and restructure advisory boards like the Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee.[4] These moves aim to unleash American energy, lower living costs, revitalize the auto industry and empower states, according to agency statements.[1][4] Environmental health experts decried the rollbacks as a threat to public health, arguing they will exacerbate air, water and chemical pollution linked to respiratory diseases, neurological damage from mercury and climate impacts.[1] The Natural Resources Defense Council warned the changes will cost lives and dollars by weakening protections against downwind pollution via the 'good neighbor rule' and wetland safeguards.[1][6] Protests from green groups intensified outside EPA headquarters, with activists decrying the loss of vehicle emission standards, including off-cycle credits for features like auto start-stop technology.[3] The Trump administration counters that GHG standards were ideological overreach unrelated to the EPA's core mission of combating criteria pollutants and air toxics, insisting no harm to health or environment will result.[3] EPA officials project trillions in total regulatory cost savings, including 'hidden taxes,' while prioritizing state-led decisions on issues like prescribed fires and coal ash permits.[1][4] Critics like Roger Pielke Jr. of the American Enterprise Institute doubt the repeal's real-world impact on emissions, noting the Clean Air Act's broad wording likely preserves legal basis for future action.[5] Separate reports highlight a 65% proposed cut to the EPA workforce, signaling broader transformations in enforcement and oversight.[2] The actions follow through on Trump's promises amid ongoing public comment periods that could shape final implementations.[1]