Trump to Rescind Landmark Climate Finding in "Largest Deregulation Act" in US History

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will formalize on Thursday the repeal of a landmark 2009 scientific finding that carbon dioxide endangers human health, a move the White House is calling the "largest deregulatory action" in American history and one that will eliminate the legal foundation for federal greenhouse gas regulations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday that President Donald Trump will be joined by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to rescind the endangerment finding first established during the Obama administration. The finding has served as the basis for vehicle emissions standards, power plant regulations, and numerous other climate policies over the past 16 years.

"This move was the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history," Leavitt told reporters, estimating it would reduce costs for automakers by $2,400 per vehicle. The administration formally proposed the repeal in July, but Thursday's action will make it official, marking the most sweeping climate policy rollback to date.

The Endangerment Finding: A Legal Cornerstone

The 2009 endangerment finding, issued under the authority of the Clean Air Act, determined that greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide threaten public health and welfare. This scientific conclusion gave the EPA legal authority to regulate emissions from vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities—a authority the Obama and Biden administrations used extensively.

According to an EPA spokesperson, the finding had been used by previous Democratic administrations to "justify trillions of dollars of greenhouse gas regulations covering new vehicles and engines." The repeal will effectively remove the legal foundation for those regulations, though legal challenges are expected.

For readers seeking to understand the complex legal and scientific foundations of climate policy, essential texts on environmental law and climate policy provide comprehensive background on how the endangerment finding shaped American regulation.

Vehicle Emissions Rules Targeted

The repeal will have immediate implications for vehicle emissions standards introduced by the Biden administration in 2024, which aimed to cut passenger vehicle fleetwide tailpipe emissions by nearly 50% by 2032 compared with projected 2027 levels. The EPA had forecast that between 35% and 56% of new vehicles sold between 2030 and 2032 would need to be electric to meet those targets.

The Biden-era rules projected net benefits of $99 billion annually through 2055, including $46 billion in reduced fuel costs and $16 billion in reduced maintenance costs for drivers. Consumers were expected to save an average of $6,000 over the lifetime of new vehicles. The Trump administration disputes these figures, arguing the regulations imposed unacceptable costs on manufacturers and consumers.

Those interested in the economic arguments surrounding environmental regulation may find value in authoritative works on environmental economics that examine the balance between regulatory costs and public benefits.

Broader Deregulatory Agenda

The climate finding repeal represents the capstone of a broader Trump administration effort to dismantle environmental regulations and promote fossil fuel development. Since returning to office, the administration has rolled back numerous clean energy initiatives, opened additional federal lands to drilling, and withdrawn the United States from international climate commitments.

The move follows a string of regulatory cuts intended to "unfetter fossil fuel development and stymie the rollout of clean energy," according to environmental advocates who have tracked the administration's policy changes. Thursday's announcement will likely trigger immediate legal challenges from environmental groups and Democratic-led states.

Legal scholars and policy analysts examining this era of regulatory change may reference scholarly works on administrative law and regulatory policy to understand the mechanisms and implications of such sweeping deregulatory actions.

Industry Response and Economic Impact

Automotive industry groups have generally welcomed the rollback, arguing that stringent emissions targets were unrealistic given current consumer preferences and charging infrastructure limitations. Environmental organizations, however, have condemned the move as a giveaway to polluters that will worsen air quality and accelerate climate change.

The $2,400 per vehicle cost reduction cited by the White House represents savings from avoiding emissions control technologies and electric vehicle development costs. However, critics note that consumers may face higher fuel costs over time and that the United States could fall behind global competitors in clean vehicle technology.

The long-term economic implications remain uncertain. While manufacturers may save on compliance costs in the short term, the United States could face trade complications with jurisdictions maintaining stricter emissions standards, including the European Union and several U.S. states that have adopted California's more stringent vehicle rules.

What's Next for Climate Policy

Thursday's formalization of the repeal will likely set off a protracted legal battle. Environmental groups have already indicated they will challenge the administration's authority to rescind the endangerment finding, arguing that the scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gases remains valid regardless of political considerations.

Meanwhile, several states have signaled they will maintain their own emissions standards regardless of federal policy changes, potentially creating a patchwork of regulations that could complicate manufacturing and sales. California, which has historically led on vehicle emissions standards, has already announced plans to defend its authority to set stricter rules.

The repeal represents a fundamental shift in American climate policy, one that removes the regulatory framework that has shaped emissions reductions for over a decade. As legal challenges proceed and states respond with their own measures, the full implications of this "largest deregulatory action" will unfold over months and years to come.