In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a sweeping overhaul of federal climate policy this week by formally rescinding the “endangerment finding,” a doctrinal cornerstone that classified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health and welfare.
The repeal eliminates the legal basis for key emissions standards that have governed vehicle regulations and power plant limits for nearly two decades. At a White House event, President Trump described the move as a “historic rollback” of regulatory overreach. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin echoed that language, emphasizing economic relief for industry and consumers.
Environmental scientists and advocates reacted with alarm. They said the endangerment finding was grounded in decades of peer-reviewed research and upheld repeatedly by federal courts. Critics argue that undoing it removes essential authority to craft future climate protections as global temperatures continue to rise and extreme weather events intensify.
Several environmental groups vowed immediate legal challenges. “This is not just regulatory change, it’s an abandonment of responsibility,” said one coalition spokesperson, adding that the repeal could weaken U.S. credibility in global climate negotiations.
Business groups praised the decision, claiming it will spur investment and innovation without burdensome compliance costs. Economists are divided; some forecast short-term economic gains, while others warn of long-term costs tied to climate impacts.
The policy shift is likely to become a central issue in upcoming elections and legal battles in federal courts as stakeholders press their cases from both sides of the debate.
