The Trump EPA's repeal of climate rules, from power plants to cars

Trump chose former Rep. Lee Zeldin to run the EPA after his 2024 victory,^[10] and the Senate confirmed him 56-42 in January 2025.^[11] In March Zeldin announced what he called the "most consequential day of deregulation in American history," a series of moves to roll back rules.^[1] The House voted to block California's rules phasing out sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035,^[12] and the agency moved to eliminate greenhouse gas limits for coal and gas power plants.^[13] In July it proposed revoking the endangerment finding;^[14] more than 85 climate scientists said the Energy Department report used to justify it did not meet standards of scientific integrity,^[15] and the National Academies of Sciences issued a report emphasizing the harms of climate change.^[16]

The rollbacks took effect through 2026. The administration revoked the endangerment finding in February,^[2] and health and environmental groups and then two dozen states sued.^[17][4] The EPA weakened limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal plants,^[7] dropped some drinking water limits on forever chemicals,^[8] and moved against California's clean car rules, though a federal judge temporarily blocked one effort.^[18][19] In September it finalized the repeal of the power plant climate rules,^[3] which more than 20 states and cities challenged in court,^[5] and in October it proposed loosening limits on methane from oil and gas production.^[20][21]