Trump Administration Plans to Revoke Critical Climate Regulation

Wed Feb 11 2026 01:37:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant move, the Trump administration is set to repeal the 2009 endangerment finding that classifies greenhouse gases as harmful to public health, potentially reshaping U.S. climate policy and regulations.

The Trump administration is expected to revoke the endangerment finding established during the Obama era, which provides a legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. This decision, stated to be a part of efforts to enhance American energy dominance, has faced criticism from environmental groups who label it a substantial attack on climate regulations. Experts anticipate legal battles as the move contradicts established science linking greenhouse gases to health risks and environmental damage.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is gearing up to revoke a pivotal scientific finding linked to climate action, as a White House official has revealed plans to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding. This key declaration, originally set in motion during the Obama administration, determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose significant risks to public health and the environment.

The announcement, expected within the week, will be formalized through a final rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the initiative is part of the administration's broader strategy to enhance America’s energy dominance and reduce costs for citizens.

The endangerment finding provides critical legal backing for numerous climate regulations under the Clean Air Act, including auto emissions standards and pollution controls for power plants. Its potential revocation raises concerns about the implications for public health and the environment, especially in the wake of worsening climate-related disasters.

Legal experts and environmental advocates anticipate objections and lawsuits, arguing that removing these regulations constitutes the most significant rollback of federal climate policies in U.S. history. Critics, including legal figures from the Environmental Defense Fund, assert that enabling more greenhouse gas emissions will worsen health outcomes and increase the financial burden on Americans due to rising insurance and fuel costs.

Previous rulings have reinforced the classification of greenhouse gases as pollutants under the Clean Air Act, and legal challenges to the endangerment finding have been consistently rejected by the courts, including a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

As this situation evolves, scientists and environmentalists are voicing grave concerns over the administration’s apparent denial of climate science, emphasizing the urgent need for robust action against environmental degradation amidst rising global temperatures.