Over three dozen democratic senators launch investigation into epa’s controversial decision to stop valuing health benefits of clean air regulations

More than 36 Democratic senators have initiated an independent investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency following what critics are calling a significant blow to public health protections and climate action efforts. The inquiry centers on the EPA’s recent decision to fundamentally change how it evaluates the benefits of air pollution regulations.

In a move that has sparked widespread concern among health advocates and environmental groups, the EPA announced it will no longer assign monetary values to the health benefits gained from reducing fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone pollution. These microscopic particles and harmful gases are linked to serious health problems including asthma, heart disease, and premature death. The agency justified this policy shift by claiming that current health benefit estimates contain “too much uncertainty” to be reliable.

The Democratic senators denounced the EPA’s decision as “particularly troubling,” arguing that it directly contradicts the agency’s core mission to protect human health and the environment. For decades, the EPA has used cost-benefit analyses that weigh regulatory expenses against quantified health benefits to justify air quality standards and pollution controls.

This policy reversal could have far-reaching implications for future environmental regulations, potentially making it much harder to justify new clean air rules and pollution reduction measures. Critics warn that without accounting for health benefits, the EPA may struggle to implement stronger air quality protections, even as scientific evidence continues to demonstrate the serious health risks posed by air pollution exposure.