The Trump administration plans to announce the repeal of the 2009 federal “endangerment finding,” which determined that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to human health and the environment. The move would remove the legal basis for federal climate regulations under the Clean Air Act, particularly those targeting vehicle emissions.
The repeal marks the most significant climate policy rollback under President Trump, following previous actions aimed at expanding fossil fuel development and slowing the transition to clean energy. Trump has repeatedly dismissed climate change as a hoax and previously withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, limiting the country’s participation in global climate efforts.
The endangerment finding previously required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases from vehicles, power plants, and industries. Its repeal would eliminate federal obligations to monitor, certify, and comply with emissions standards for cars, though it may not immediately affect stationary sources like power plants, according to officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. Transportation and power generation each account for roughly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
While many industry groups support easing vehicle emissions standards, public backing for rescinding the endangerment finding has been cautious due to potential legal and regulatory uncertainties. Legal experts warn the rollback could trigger “public nuisance” lawsuits, a route previously curtailed by a 2011 Supreme Court ruling that designated the EPA as the authority for greenhouse gas regulation.
Environmental advocates have condemned the repeal as a threat to the climate. Future administrations seeking to regulate emissions would likely need to reinstate the endangerment finding, a process that could be legally and politically complex. University of Maryland law professor Robert Percival described the move as “classic overreach” with potential legal repercussions.
