Washington D.C. – In a move described by the White House as a significant deregulation effort, President Donald Trump on Thursday, February 12, 2026, formally revoked the “endangerment finding” issued in 2009 during the Obama administration. This finding, a cornerstone of U.S. Efforts to combat climate change for over sixteen years, had enabled the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Speaking from the White House, Trump characterized the 2009 determination as “factually baseless” and “legally unsound,” labeling it a “massive con job” that had “severely damaged the American automotive industry.” He dismissed concerns that rescinding the finding could exacerbate climate change and endanger public health, asserting the action would “drastically lower car prices.”
The 2009 endangerment finding, formally issued by the EPA in December of that year, established the legal basis for the agency to regulate emissions deemed a threat to “the health and welfare of current and future generations.” This authority stemmed from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, which affirmed the EPA’s power to regulate heat-trapping pollutants like carbon dioxide, and methane. The initial regulations targeted vehicle exhaust, later expanding to include coal and gas-fired power plants, and the oil and gas industry.
The Trump administration questioned the scientific basis of the 2009 finding, arguing that the impacts of emissions on human health were indirect and that U.S. Regulations alone were insufficient to address a global problem. However, scientists and environmental experts widely support the original determination. The American Geophysical Union stated the finding was “based on decades of rigorous climate science and has undergone peer review.”
In July 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin characterized the costs associated with greenhouse gas regulations for cars and trucks as a “real threat to the livelihoods of American citizens.” The White House stated that eliminating these environmental regulations would expand access to affordable and reliable energy, with Trump claiming it would save over $1.3 trillion by removing requirements related to vehicle emission standards and related programs.
Environmental analysts contend that these projected savings do not account for the increasing costs associated with the impacts of climate change, including threats to human health, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events.
With the endangerment finding rescinded, the EPA loses its authority to utilize the Clean Air Act of 1963 to regulate greenhouse gases. Barry Rabe, a professor of public and environmental policy at the University of Michigan, stated the move signals a complete shift away from renewable energy and energy efficiency towards increased production and use of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas.
The revocation will likely slow efforts to require U.S. Automakers to sell more low-emission vehicles and reduce federal support for the growing electric vehicle sector. The Biden administration had previously set a non-binding target for electric vehicles to account for at least 50% of new car sales by 2030. Gretchen Goldman, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, noted that transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
Environmental groups warn the action could pave the way for the elimination of carbon emission limits and other pollutant restrictions from power plants and fossil fuel industries, potentially dismantling nearly all climate regulations. A team of international researchers this week also cautioned that destabilizing Earth’s feedback systems could exacerbate the consequences of global warming after millennia of relatively stable climate conditions. William Ripple, a professor of ecology at Oregon State University, stated the world could enter a period of unprecedented climate change, potentially putting it on a path toward “extreme greenhouse” conditions.
Since assuming office in January 2025, Trump has withdrawn the U.S. From international climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement, rolled back environmental protections, suppressed climate research, and promoted the fossil fuel industry. This week, he also directed U.S. Military bases and facilities to purchase electricity from “beautiful clean coal” power plants, citing the unreliability of renewable energy.
Critics, including the Environmental Defense Fund and the non-profit environmental law firm Earthjustice, have stated their intention to challenge the decision in court, potentially up to the Supreme Court. However, such a legal process could take years, during which time the endangerment finding and its associated policies would remain suspended. Manish Bapna, head of the Natural Resources Defense Council, accused Trump of giving a “blank check to oil billionaires.” While some utility companies welcomed the EPA’s move, others expressed concern it could trigger public nuisance lawsuits against activities deemed harmful to public health and safety.
Robert Percival, a professor of environmental law at the University of Maryland, suggested the action could be a classic example of government overreach ultimately harming its own interests.