The Trump administration has announced a major rollback of Obama-era climate regulations, calling it the dismantling of a “trillion-dollar scam” that has heavily burdened the U.S. auto industry. The core of this move is the revocation of the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a key legal basis for imposing strict greenhouse gas emission limits on cars, trucks, and engines. Officials argue that these rules forced consumers toward expensive electric vehicles and increased costs across the industry.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin unveiled the plan during an event at a car dealership in Indiana. He described the repeal as a crucial effort to end what he termed an “overreaching climate agenda.” According to Zeldin, eliminating regulations such as stop-start engine requirements and President Biden’s electric vehicle mandate could save Americans over \$54 billion annually by reducing manufacturing costs and improving affordability.
This regulatory rollback is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to reverse Green New Deal-inspired policies. Officials claim they are restoring commonsense environmental and energy practices. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright called the move a “monumental step” toward ensuring affordable, reliable, and secure energy access for all Americans, positioning it as a win for working families and small businesses.
In a related controversy, Fox Business reported that former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg overruled safety guidelines by permitting wind turbines near critical infrastructure. Zeldin cited this as another example of green energy policies overriding safety, environmental, and economic considerations.
Overall, these actions mark a stark policy shift. The Trump administration is emphasizing energy reliability through fossil fuels and challenging what it sees as harmful environmental extremism. The administration argues this approach better serves both industry and American consumers by reducing regulatory burdens and restoring energy independence.
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