EPA Moves to Overturn Landmark Greenhouse Gas Warning in Sweeping Deregulatory Shift

July 29, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a move that could reshape the nation's climate policy for decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today its intent to revoke the 2009 "endangerment finding" that classified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health and welfare. The decision, unveiled by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin at an Indiana auto dealership, marks what the agency calls the "largest deregulatory action in U.S. history".

The endangerment finding has served as the legal foundation for federal climate regulations under the Clean Air Act, including vehicle emission standards and power plant controls. Its reversal would dismantle key climate protections enacted during the Obama and Biden administrations and could severely limit future regulatory efforts.

"We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion," Zeldin said, framing the move as a victory for American consumers and automakers burdened by costly regulations.

Legal and Scientific Backlash

Environmental advocates and legal experts swiftly condemned the proposal. Former Vice President Al Gore called the announcement "a reckless abandonment of science," while the Environmental Defense Fund warned that removing pollution limits would "make life more expensive and even more dangerous".

The EPA's own 2024 impact report projected that maintaining greenhouse gas standards would yield over $2.1 trillion in benefits over 30 years, including $829 billion in fuel savings and $1.8 trillion in climate and public health gains.

Legal challenges are expected, with critics arguing the move defies the Supreme Court's 2007 ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, which affirmed the agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gases.

Political and Economic Implications

The announcement aligns with President Donald Trump's broader deregulatory agenda and echoes recommendations from the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, which seeks to curtail federal climate oversight. Zeldin argued that the original finding was based on "flawed reasoning" and imposed "trillions of dollars of costs on Americans".

If finalized, the rollback would eliminate electric vehicle mandates and emissions standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles - a shift that could reshape the auto industry and increase reliance on fossil fuels.

Next Steps

The EPA will open a 45-day public comment period before finalizing the rule. Environmental groups, state governments, and legal scholars are preparing to challenge the proposal in court, potentially setting up a landmark legal battle over the future of U.S. climate policy.