Trump administration claims $1.3 trillion in climate savings, but own analysis shows rule will increase gas prices

The Trump administration announced the repeal of a foundational climate regulation on Thursday, claiming it will save Americans $1.3 trillion by 2055. However, the administration’s own economic analysis reveals a different story – one that shows the rollback will likely increase gas prices and may cost more than it saves.

President Trump and Environmental Secretary Lee Zeldin finalized the repeal of the “endangerment finding,” a critical legal determination that serves as the foundation for virtually all federal climate regulations, including greenhouse gas standards for vehicles. This finding, originally established during the Obama administration, legally recognizes that greenhouse gases pose a danger to public health and welfare, enabling the federal government to regulate carbon emissions.

Critics are challenging the administration’s rosy financial projections, accusing officials of “cooking the books” to justify the deregulation. The internal government analysis contradicts the public claims, indicating that eliminating vehicle emission standards and other climate protections will drive up fuel costs for consumers. Environmental experts argue that the true economic impact includes not just immediate costs like higher gas prices, but also long-term expenses related to climate damage, public health impacts, and infrastructure repairs.

The repeal represents one of the most significant rollbacks of environmental protection in recent decades, effectively dismantling the legal framework that allowed federal agencies to address climate change through regulation. The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between economic arguments and environmental protection, with both sides presenting vastly different calculations of costs and benefits.