EPA Moves to Roll Back Obama-Era Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its decision to officially dismantle existing regulations, allowing for greater control over greenhouse gas emissions.
Lee Zeldin, the EPA Administrator, revealed the agency’s proposal to revoke regulations set during the Obama administration. He argues that these rules, supported by the previous Trump administration and various industry experts, rely on questionable scientific evidence and impose stringent regulations on power plants and vehicles under the pretense of combating climate change. If these rules are overturned, experts suggest it would lead to more consumer freedom and lower costs for Americans.
“Removing these harmful findings will dismantle the foundation upon which radical climate policies are based,” said Mandy Gunasekara, a former EPA chief of staff from the Trump administration. “Democrats have used this ‘danger’ finding to reshape the economy, disadvantage American jobs, and burden families with high energy costs. That ends today.”
Zeldin described the action as one of the largest deregulatory moves in U.S. history, claiming the Obama-era danger finding justified over a trillion dollars in regulation, including mandates for electric vehicles. Should the proposal be finalized, it would significantly weaken the EPA’s ability to oversee greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate emission standards across various vehicle classes.
The proposed rollback includes the 2010 and 2011 regulations for light and medium-duty vehicles, as well as rules concerning emissions from heavy-duty engines. Additionally, the agency plans to challenge the existing scientific evidence supporting these regulations and reference new research from the Department of Energy.
Zeldin’s announcement is backed by key figures in Indiana’s energy sector, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Indiana Governor Mike Brown, Attorney General Todd Rokita, and Representative Jim Baird. This move aligns with a broader deregulatory strategy aimed at easing the burdens on the energy sector and reducing costs for consumers while addressing energy grid reliability.
“President Trump is committed to rejuvenating the American economy and making life affordable again. The steps outlined by Zeldin pave the way for the EPA to focus on practical health and environmental solutions,” noted Gunasekara. Zeldin emphasized the agency’s return to its core mission of protecting public health and the environment.
In March, a reconsideration of the danger finding was announced, signaling collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget and other federal entities to revisit this issue. Public comments will be sought for at least 30 days once the proposal is made available in the federal register.
This finding originated from a Supreme Court ruling in 2007, which established that greenhouse gases are to be regulated under the Clean Air Act. Revoking it could alleviate over a trillion dollars in hidden costs for American families and businesses, according to Zeldin. “This proposal aims to end over 16 years of uncertainty for both automakers and consumers,” he added.
Some energy policy experts hail the plan to eliminate this finding. “Today is a landmark day for America,” one expert said, crediting the proposal with the potential to erase costly energy regulations based on flawed models used by previous administrations.
Mark Morano, who referred to Zeldin as a transformative EPA chief, believes this proposal is pivotal in dismantling the framework for what he terms “climate nonsense” imposed over recent years.
Critics argue that Democrats have leveraged the danger finding to justify regulations like the banning of gas-powered appliances, restrictions on travel and farming, and other mandates. Diana Furchtgott-Roth from the Heritage Foundation expressed that rolling back vehicle regulations is a crucial step toward lowering transportation costs for Americans. Daniel Turner, founder of Power the Future, praised the move, stating it’s about restoring accountability to energy decisions.
The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these developments.
