In a move described as the “single largest deregulatory action” in U.S. history, the Trump administration has officially revoked the 2009 “endangerment finding.” This landmark decision, finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Administrator Lee Zeldin, eliminates the legal declaration that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide pose a threat to public health and welfare.
Since its inception, the endangerment finding has served as the foundational bedrock for nearly all federal climate regulations under the Clean Air Act. By rescinding it, the administration aims to dismantle emission standards for motor vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities.
President Trump defended the repeal, arguing that previous climate policies “severely damaged” the American auto industry and inflated costs for consumers. He emphasized that fossil fuels have historically lifted billions out of poverty, contrasting this with “costly” mandates that restricted consumer choice.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin echoed this sentiment, labeling the finding a tool of “regulatory overreach” that targeted the American dream.
Alongside the repeal, the EPA announced a two-year delay on Biden-era tailpipe emission rules to focus on affordability and the reality of slower electric vehicle sales.
