In a whirlwind of regulatory announcements, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued 31 directives within mere hours aimed at weakening or repealing pollution limits. Central to this initiative is the EPA's decision to reconsider the official stance that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health, a move that could undermine the foundational endangerment finding established by a Supreme Court ruling. This finding has historically supported numerous regulations designed to mitigate pollution.
The EPA's actions include revisiting pollution standards for cars and trucks, and potentially weakening rules that limit sooty air pollution. Furthermore, the agency may revoke requirements that prevent power plants from contaminating waterways with their toxic waste. The EPA will also deliberate on further narrowing its implementation of the Clean Water Act. Critics argue that these actions represent a significant departure from the agency's mission to safeguard public health.
Democratic lawmakers have raised questions about the legality of these sweeping changes. These decisions come on the heels of the EPA's recent closure of offices dedicated to addressing pollution's disproportionate effects on marginalized communities. Additionally, the agency halted $20 billion in climate crisis grants, citing concerns over potential fraud.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the agency's course, stating that they would reconsider the endangerment finding due to worries that it had led to unnecessary regulations. This stance aligns with a broader government effort to bolster the fossil fuel industry, as evidenced by the Energy Dominance Council's push to eliminate numerous regulations.
Environmentalists have reacted with alarm, promising to defend scientific findings against these regulatory rollbacks. Jason Rylander, legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, criticized the administration's approach.
"The Trump administration’s ignorance is trumped only by its malice toward the planet," said Jason Rylander, legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute.
He further emphasized their commitment to contesting these changes in court.
“Come hell or high water, raging fires and deadly heatwaves, Trump and his cronies are bent on putting polluter profits ahead of people’s lives. This move won’t stand up in court. We’re going to fight it every step of the way,” Rylander added.
Dominique Browning, director of Moms Clean Air Force, expressed grave concerns over the EPA's direction under Zeldin.
“Zeldin’s EPA is dragging America back to the days before the Clean Air Act, when people were dying from pollution,” said Browning.
She vowed to oppose these changes vigorously.
“This is unacceptable. And shameful. We will oppose with all our hearts to protect our children from this cruel, monstrous action,” Browning declared.
Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy also weighed in on the implications of these rollbacks.
“Today marks the most disastrous day in EPA history,” McCarthy stated.
She underscored the gravity of undoing these critical environmental protections.
“Rolling these rules back is not just a disgrace, it’s a threat to all of us. The agency has fully abdicated its mission to protect Americans’ health and wellbeing,” McCarthy emphasized.
Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary, highlighted a different perspective by advocating for regulatory cuts.
“We will come up with the ways that we can cut red tape,” Burgum suggested.
He further quantified the potential scale of deregulation.
“We can easily get rid of 20-30% of our regulations,” Burgum asserted.