EPA Chief Zeldin Plans Overhaul of 2009 Climate Endangerment Finding

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced plans to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a pivotal Obama-era ruling that designated six greenhouse gases as threats to public health and welfare. This move aims to dismantle the legal foundation underpinning over $1 trillion in federal climate regulations, including emissions standards for vehicles and power plants, which Zeldin argues have imposed hidden taxes and economic burdens on American families and businesses. He described the Endangerment Finding as the “holy grail of the climate change religion” and claimed the Biden and Obama administrations twisted science and law to enforce costly mandates. The EPA projects that repealing the finding could save consumers up to $54 billion annually and restore regulatory certainty for automakers. However, environmental groups strongly oppose the move, pledging legal challenges, as the repeal risks undermining efforts to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposal is open for public comment and represents a major rollback of federal climate policy under President Trump’s administration.