Trump repeals EPA climate finding, cuts rules

February 13, 2026

The administration of President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a major shift in U.S. environmental policy, revoking the long-standing scientific determination that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health. In addition, the White House announced the elimination of federal tailpipe emissions standards for passenger vehicles and commercial trucks.

This marks the most significant rollback of U.S. climate change regulations under the current administration, following a series of actions designed to scale back environmental rules, boost domestic fossil fuel production, and slow the expansion of renewable energy initiatives.

Speaking at the announcement, President Trump described the decision as a historic deregulation effort. He stated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had formally ended the so-called “endangerment finding,” a policy established during the Obama administration that classified greenhouse gases as harmful under the Clean Air Act. According to Trump, the move removes regulatory burdens that he claims increased vehicle costs and placed strain on the American automotive industry.

In an official statement, the Environmental Protection Agency said the original endangerment finding was based on what it now considers a misapplication of federal clean air laws. The agency argued that the Clean Air Act was intended to address pollutants causing direct local or regional harm, rather than emissions contributing to global climate change. EPA officials described the prior legal interpretation as exceeding the agency’s statutory authority.

The announcement was made alongside EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and White House budget director Russ Vought, a longtime critic of the endangerment finding and a key contributor to the conservative policy framework known as Project 2025. The administration emphasized that the repeal represents a shift toward regulatory reform and energy independence.

President Trump has consistently expressed skepticism about climate change, previously referring to it as exaggerated and withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. The U.S., historically the world’s largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, is now outside the international climate accord aimed at limiting global warming. The administration has also reversed Biden-era incentives, including tax credits designed to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.

Former President Barack Obama criticized the repeal on social media platform X, arguing that eliminating the endangerment finding could weaken public health protections and undermine efforts to address global climate change, while benefiting the fossil fuel industry.

This policy reversal is expected to have significant implications for U.S. climate policy, the automotive sector, environmental regulation, and international climate commitments moving forward.