The U.S. is set to roll back core climate regulation, according to senior White House officials. The Trump administration is shifting U.S. federal climate policies. A key part of that change is the administration’s elimination of an important scientific determination that has underpinned the federal government’s legal authority to regulate greenhouse gases since 2009. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to publish a final rule eliminating the “endangerment finding” that was issued in 2009 by the Obama Administration, which defined carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) as dangerous to public health and welfare.

What is the Endangerment Finding?

The finding of endangerment was established in 2009 following a Supreme Court ruling that required the EPA to determine whether greenhouse gases pose a danger to public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act.

By classifying greenhouse gases as harmful, the EPA gained broad authority to set greenhouse gas emission standards to mitigate global warming. In addition, all significant U.S. government climate change regulations have, for years, cited this declaration as justification. Supporters of the change say it eases regulations, boosts U.S. energy production, and strengthens America’s energy position, and on the other hand, critics argue that it flies in the face of scientific evidence and erodes protections that guard against health risks associated with climate change.

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White House Confirms Deregulatory Push

The White House is moving ahead with plans to revoke the endangerment finding, according to an official, because the news is still sensitive. The Wall Street Journal broke the story, and later other administration sources corroborated it. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a bold step in the administration’s push to cut regulations, saying President Trump wants to launch “the most significant deregulatory actions in history,” aiming to increase U.S. energy production and lower costs for consumers and businesses.

What does this actually mean for climate and energy policy? Eliminating the endangerment finding would make it much harder for the federal government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Legal experts say this move could wipe out current climate rules unless Congress steps in with new laws.

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Legal and Political Fallout Ahead

The decision is expected to face legal challenges immediately from environmental groups and Democratic-led states. The legality of the decision is expected to be challenged in court to determine whether the EPA can revoke a science-based decision absent evidence to the contrary.

However, as the debate continues, the administration’s decision represents a paradigm shift in federal environmental policy, and the U.S. is set to roll back core climate regulation, marking one of the most notable climate policy changes in American history.

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