EPA rolls back greenhouse gas rule, estimates $1.3 trillion in savings for American consumers

By EPN Staff

The Trump administration has officially repealed the “endangerment finding,” the legal and scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions, calling it the “single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.” The move ends federal oversight of emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane, which had been regulated under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recent years.

The rollback began last year, with the administration citing the need to reduce compliance costs, promote grid reliability and lower energy prices. 

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin highlighted the benefits for American manufacturers. 

“The red tape has been cut,” Zeldin said. “Manufacturers will no longer be burdened by measuring, compiling and reporting greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles and engines. And the forced transition to electric vehicles is eliminated.”

Why it matters

The administration estimates the repeal could save Americans $1.3 trillion by reducing regulatory requirements. Vehicle owners could see average savings of $2,400 per car, according to the EPA. Proponents argue that the action removes unnecessary burdens on businesses while providing consumers with more options in energy and vehicle choices.

Environmental groups condemned the decision, warning it could accelerate global climate risks. Critics counter that eliminating the endangerment finding weakens the U.S. approach to climate mitigation at a time when global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. 

The EPA said the repeal realigns its regulatory framework with what it considers the statutory limits of the Clean Air Act rather than acting as a foundation for future greenhouse gas regulation. Zeldin emphasized that the repeal restores regulatory alignment with congressional intent. 

“This repeal will help the EPA reflect the true congressional intent of the Clean Air Act,” he said, signaling a shift toward narrower federal authority over emissions.

The EPA, in a press release, framed the rollback as a matter of consumer choice and adherence to federal law, noting that it concluded it lacked legal authority to set emissions standards as previously applied. The decision follows the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia v. EPA, which limited executive authority in the absence of clear congressional direction.

The bigger picture

The repeal represents a major turning point in U.S. environmental policy, effectively ending the federal greenhouse gas oversight that shaped automotive, energy and industrial sectors in recent years. Supporters frame it as restoring regulatory clarity and flexibility for businesses, while opponents see it as a retreat from climate leadership.

A state-by-state patchwork of emissions regulations remains following the decision. An alliance of states and several environmental groups vow to challenge the policy change in court.