How Trump’s major regulation overhaul could reshape federal spending and global markets
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The Trump administration is preparing to revoke a major environmental regulation, a decision that could free up redirect federal climate spending while reshaping US climate policy.
Supporters see it as a win for economic growth and deregulation, while critics warn of serious environmental and global consequences.
As the debate unfolds, the move raises questions about the balance between economic priorities and long-term sustainability.
The Trump administration is considering eliminating a key scientific determination that has guided hundreds of billions in federal climate change funding.
The “endangerment finding,” a pivotal 2009 scientific determination by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is under threat.
This finding, which concluded that greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and thus pose a risk to public health and welfare, has been the foundation for federal emissions regulations since the Obama administration.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, reportedly at the forefront of this push, is said to be lobbying the White House to rescind the endangerment finding.
The implications of such a rollback are profound. The Obama and Biden Administrations leveraged the 2009 ruling to implement new emission standards for vehicles, factories, and power plants.
These measures involved significant financial commitments, including grants for climate initiatives and compliance costs for businesses.
For instance, the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 earmarked nearly $400 billion over ten years for carbon emission reduction efforts.
The American Action Forum estimated that the EPA's latest tailpipe emissions rule could cost a staggering $870 billion over two decades.
The Trump Administration's consideration of this rollback is part of a broader “Unleashing American Energy” directive, which aims to eliminate barriers to the production of various energy sources, including fossil fuels.
This initiative began on day one of Trump's second term with an executive order that tasked Zeldin with reviewing the “legality and continuing applicability” of the endangerment finding.
Critics of the government's climate change regulations argue that they have financially burdened both consumers and manufacturers, with Tom Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, expressing support for the administration's current direction.
On the flip side, environmental advocates caution that weakening these regulations could have significant environmental and public health impacts.
Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, emphasized the devastating impacts of climate pollution, such as worsening natural disasters and dangerous smog levels.
She vowed that any attempt to undermine the endangerment finding would be met with vigorous opposition.
EPA spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou did not address the report directly but stated that the agency is adhering to the January 20 executive order.
The Trump Administration's stance has also led to significant personnel changes within the EPA, with over 1,100 employees, including scientists and experts in air pollution and hazardous waste, being notified of potential dismissal.
Recommended for you: Information's being taken down: How the executive orders are impacting public health resources
David Uhlmann, who spearheaded the EPA enforcement during the Biden presidency, stated that “when viewed alongside everything else taking place, [the changes] are yet another unfortunate attack on public servants who have dedicated their careers to public health and environmental protection.”
Reports indicate that federal scientists and diplomats were not authorized to attend a major climate change conference in China.
Myron Ebell, who led Trump's EPA transition team during his first term, suggested that revoking the endangerment finding could simplify efforts to dismantle Joe Biden’s climate policies.
“If you want to go back and redo one of these rules, you're going to have a very spirited court battle if you ignore the endangerment finding,” Ebell said. “So I think they really need to do this.”
Legal experts like Sean Donahue, who represents environmental groups supporting the endangerment finding, believe that any attempt to repeal the 2009 scientific conclusion would likely face defeat in court, given its history of withstanding legal challenges.
Also read: Legal expert analyzes challenges facing Trump's executive orders
How do you feel about the potential rollback of climate regulations? Share your thoughts in the comments below but please remember to remain respectful.
Supporters see it as a win for economic growth and deregulation, while critics warn of serious environmental and global consequences.
As the debate unfolds, the move raises questions about the balance between economic priorities and long-term sustainability.
The Trump administration is considering eliminating a key scientific determination that has guided hundreds of billions in federal climate change funding.
The “endangerment finding,” a pivotal 2009 scientific determination by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is under threat.
This finding, which concluded that greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and thus pose a risk to public health and welfare, has been the foundation for federal emissions regulations since the Obama administration.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, reportedly at the forefront of this push, is said to be lobbying the White House to rescind the endangerment finding.
The Trump Administration may potentially repeal the “endangerment finding,” a pivotal scientific conclusion on greenhouse gases and climate change. Image source: WTHR / Youtube.
The implications of such a rollback are profound. The Obama and Biden Administrations leveraged the 2009 ruling to implement new emission standards for vehicles, factories, and power plants.
These measures involved significant financial commitments, including grants for climate initiatives and compliance costs for businesses.
For instance, the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 earmarked nearly $400 billion over ten years for carbon emission reduction efforts.
The American Action Forum estimated that the EPA's latest tailpipe emissions rule could cost a staggering $870 billion over two decades.
The Trump Administration's consideration of this rollback is part of a broader “Unleashing American Energy” directive, which aims to eliminate barriers to the production of various energy sources, including fossil fuels.
This initiative began on day one of Trump's second term with an executive order that tasked Zeldin with reviewing the “legality and continuing applicability” of the endangerment finding.
Critics of the government's climate change regulations argue that they have financially burdened both consumers and manufacturers, with Tom Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, expressing support for the administration's current direction.
On the flip side, environmental advocates caution that weakening these regulations could have significant environmental and public health impacts.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is reportedly advocating for this repeal, which could weaken or undo existing climate regulations. Image source: WTHR / Youtube.
Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, emphasized the devastating impacts of climate pollution, such as worsening natural disasters and dangerous smog levels.
She vowed that any attempt to undermine the endangerment finding would be met with vigorous opposition.
EPA spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou did not address the report directly but stated that the agency is adhering to the January 20 executive order.
The Trump Administration's stance has also led to significant personnel changes within the EPA, with over 1,100 employees, including scientists and experts in air pollution and hazardous waste, being notified of potential dismissal.
Recommended for you: Information's being taken down: How the executive orders are impacting public health resources
David Uhlmann, who spearheaded the EPA enforcement during the Biden presidency, stated that “when viewed alongside everything else taking place, [the changes] are yet another unfortunate attack on public servants who have dedicated their careers to public health and environmental protection.”
Reports indicate that federal scientists and diplomats were not authorized to attend a major climate change conference in China.
Myron Ebell, who led Trump's EPA transition team during his first term, suggested that revoking the endangerment finding could simplify efforts to dismantle Joe Biden’s climate policies.
“If you want to go back and redo one of these rules, you're going to have a very spirited court battle if you ignore the endangerment finding,” Ebell said. “So I think they really need to do this.”
Legal experts like Sean Donahue, who represents environmental groups supporting the endangerment finding, believe that any attempt to repeal the 2009 scientific conclusion would likely face defeat in court, given its history of withstanding legal challenges.
Also read: Legal expert analyzes challenges facing Trump's executive orders
How do you feel about the potential rollback of climate regulations? Share your thoughts in the comments below but please remember to remain respectful.
