Trump administration moves to scrap key legal basis for US climate rules

The Trump administration is planning to revoke a key scientific determination that has served as the legal bedrock for federal climate change regulations for over a decade. According to a report, the move would target the 2009 "endangerment finding," which concluded that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare, thereby authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Impact on industry and regulatory landscape

The expected final rule, reportedly due later this week, would eliminate requirements for automakers and other industries to measure, report, and comply with federal greenhouse gas standards for vehicles. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the planned repeal as "the largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States." While rules for power plants and stationary sources would not be immediately affected, officials indicated the repeal would pave the way for future rollbacks in those areas.

Administration rationale and projected costs

President Donald Trump has consistently argued that climate regulations impose undue burdens on U.S. industry and increase energy costs. The administration claims that rescinding the endangerment finding would slash regulatory costs by more than $1 trillion, although detailed calculations for this estimate were not provided. The action aligns with the administration's broader agenda of prioritizing industrial competitiveness and energy independence over mandated emissions reductions.

Legal and political fallout anticipated

The planned repeal is certain to trigger swift legal challenges from environmental groups and several Democratic-led states. Attorneys general from states like California, New York, and Massachusetts have warned that overturning the finding contravenes Supreme Court precedent and established scientific consensus. The rollback could also create a patchwork of state-level regulations, as states may implement their own emissions rules in the absence of a coherent federal standard, leading to business uncertainty.