Trump administration plans to dismantle foundation of us climate regulations in historic rollback

The Trump administration announced plans to eliminate a critical 2009 scientific finding that serves as the legal foundation for virtually all US climate regulations, in what officials are calling “the largest deregulatory action in American history.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that President Trump will formally rescind the Obama-era “endangerment finding” on Thursday, joined by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. This 2009 determination by the Environmental Protection Agency established that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare—a scientific conclusion that has enabled the federal government to regulate climate pollution under the Clean Air Act for over a decade.

The endangerment finding has been the cornerstone of numerous climate policies, including vehicle emission standards, power plant regulations, and methane controls. By revoking this finding, the administration would effectively strip the EPA of its primary legal authority to address greenhouse gas emissions, potentially unraveling years of climate progress.

Environmental groups are mobilizing to challenge the rollback, arguing that the underlying science demonstrating the health risks of greenhouse gases remains unchanged since 2009. Climate advocates warn that dismantling this regulatory framework could significantly hamper America’s ability to reduce emissions and meet international climate commitments, while potentially exposing communities to increased air pollution and climate-related health impacts.