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Trump Administration Repeals 2009 Endangerment Finding

February 17, 2026
Ayat Nayyer

On February 12, the Trump administration repealed a law that allowed the federal government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

The 2009 endangerment finding, which determined that six key greenhouse gases harm human health, was passed during the Obama administration. This came after petitions from environmental agencies and states led to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts vs. EPA that greenhouse gases are considered “air pollutants” under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act. The finding primarily applied to emissions released by the automotive industry and power plants, but many experts say that it served as the standard for regulation across all sectors of the EPA as well.

"While this initial rulemaking is focused on motor vehicle regulation, it will have ripple effects on other EPA programs as well,” said Matthew Leopold, an environmental attorney for Holland & Knight who served on the EPA during Trump’s first administration.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the move, citing it as essential for lowering “regulatory costs” and increasing innovation and investment. The administration further claims that rescinding the endangerment finding will allow companies to manufacture automobiles with more independence and estimates that the price of vehicles will be lowered by approximately $2,330 for the average American. Yet, in the process, automakers will likely pivot away from manufacturing electric vehicles, which present a golden void in the current global market that could quickly be filled by other countries.

“...In the medium- and long-term, the United States risks losing economic competitiveness to China, which is electrifying its economy and producing far more electricity (through clean sources such as nuclear, solar, and wind) and using electricity for electric vehicles, electrified industry, and more,” warns Varun Sivaram, a Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate for the Council on Foreign Relations.

Trump maintains that removing the endangerment finding will lead to a “revival” in industry. And while his viewpoints align with the broader Republican agenda on prioritizing economic growth, some industry allies remain skeptical. By dismantling the federal framework to guide greenhouse gas regulation, companies would be subject to a “patchwork” of state rules, creating a precarious situation. Industries will likely be prone to policy shifts from future administrations, which would make planning less efficient and stable. Most agree that the Biden-era tailpipe standards calling for a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2026 to 2032 would have been impractical for automakers to fulfill and may have even been ineffective at reducing climate-related effects, but removing the basis for this altogether was too severe a step. Joshua Linn, an economics professor at the University of Maryland, said that it would have been most favorable for environmentalists, industries and consumers if the Trump administration simply eased the regulation instead.

As critics point out, the implications of repealing the legislation will be felt by communities across the nation—possibly in something as tangible as people’s wallets. Climate change has been linked to extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, costing the United States an estimated $150 billion a year. With little oversight on carbon dioxide and methane emissions, both of which are particularly potent greenhouse gases, the risk of climate change and thus weather disasters becomes higher. According to experts, Americans could potentially see “higher costs for insurance, relocation, home repair, health care, food, and electricity to heat and cool homes.” An analysis conducted by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment adds that the repeal could lead to higher incidences of asthma and heart disease—conditions linked to poor air quality and economic losses—as companies lag in clean-tech markets. While these impacts are speculative, they are supported by objective scientific facts and merit, a problem that some say the Trump administration might face if the revocation of the endangerment finding faces legal challenges.

But Trump’s repeal of the endangerment finding is just one part of his larger goals to step out of the climate game. Last month, he withdrew the United States from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is the structure for the Paris Agreement. The accord stipulated that participating nations work collectively to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the planet would not warm by more than 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and the withdrawal could make it difficult for future presidents to rejoin. Trump has also vowed to expand his stance to the oil and gas industry by cutting down on methane, which warms the environment significantly when burned.

Ultimately, while there are arguments on both sides, only time can tell how the implications will truly materialize. It is likely that the revocation of the endangerment finding will be challenged by environmentalists in court. At the same time, others have been searching for a middle ground, something that is inevitable to attain in today’s state of extreme politics. Though we can never satisfy all stakeholders involved, it’s clear that the Trump administration’s repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding will be met with scrutiny in the days, months and years to come.