Trump Administration Revokes EPA Endangerment Finding Ending Federal Greenhouse Gas Regulation
Key Facts
- The revocation occurred on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
- The 2009 finding identified six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, as threats to public health and welfare.
- The White House claims the move will save $1.3 trillion and reduce vehicle costs by $2,400 on average.
- Environmental groups estimate the rollback could lead to 58,000 additional premature deaths and $1.4 trillion in increased fuel costs.
- Ford Motor and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation expressed support for the move, citing the need for market-aligned standards.
- Tesla opposed the revocation, stating it deprives consumers of choice and creates regulatory instability for investments.
The Trump administration on Thursday revoked the 2009 "endangerment finding," a move that eliminates the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) legal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities. President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin finalized the rule at the White House, describing it as the largest deregulatory action in American history. The administration claims the repeal will save consumers more than $1.3 trillion and reduce the cost of new vehicles by an average of $2,400 by removing federal emission standards for model years 2012 to 2027.
Historical Context
The 2009 endangerment finding was established during the Obama administration following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, which determined that greenhouse gases are air pollutants that can be regulated under the Clean Air Act if they endanger public health. For 16 years, this finding served as the legal foundation for federal climate policies, including fuel-efficiency standards and limits on methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector.
Perspective Analysis
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