President Donald Trump has overturned a landmark 2009 Obama-era “endangerment finding” that classified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health, marking what the White House describes as the largest deregulation in US history.
Policy Background
The 2009 EPA finding established the legal basis under the Clean Air Act for regulating emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other sources, enabling federal climate policies.
Trump’s administration, with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, finalized the repeal after reviewing 500,000 public comments, arguing it removes overly restrictive rules stifling industry.
Economic Claims
The White House states the move will lower car prices by about $2,400 per vehicle by easing automaker compliance costs.
It aligns with Trump’s broader push to boost fossil fuels and cut clean energy barriers since his January 2025 inauguration.
Environmental Backlash
Critics, including climate groups and Democrats like Senator Ed Markey, warn it undermines US climate action and endangers public health by rejecting established science.
They vow legal challenges, viewing it as a setback for global warming efforts.
