The Trump administration is taking a major step to dismantle one of the most consequential climate regulations of the Obama era — a move supporters say will reduce costs, ease regulatory pressure, and restore consumer choice.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Thursday that the agency will eliminate the “2009 Obama EPA Endangerment Finding,” a determination that set in motion most federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles and other sectors of the economy.
Republicans have long argued that the 2009 finding became the legal foundation for expansive federal climate mandates — many of which they say have driven up vehicle prices, burdened manufacturers, and limited options for everyday Americans.
Background: The Rule That Changed Federal Climate Policy
In 2009, the Obama EPA declared that carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and several other greenhouse gases:
“endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations”
under the Clean Air Act.
That finding empowered the federal government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions broadly, triggering years of new rules affecting fuel economy, vehicle design, and industrial compliance.
The regulatory framework was reinforced by the Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, which held that greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants and that if the EPA determines they endanger public health or welfare, the agency can regulate them.
Zeldin Takes Aim at Start-Stop Technology
Zeldin pointed to one of the most visible outcomes of these mandates: the widely disliked start-stop feature now common in many modern vehicles, designed to help automakers meet emissions targets.
“As I traveled across all 50 states this past year, I heard from countless Americans who not only dislike the (motor-vehicle) start-stop feature but passionately advocated for this mechanism to be a thing of the past,” Zeldin said of the major recission made Thursday.
He added:
“Not only do many people find start-stop annoying, but it kills the battery of your car without any significant benefit to the environment. The Trump EPA is proudly fixing this stupid feature at Trump Speed.”
For many drivers, start-stop systems have become a symbol of what conservatives describe as unnecessary government intrusion into consumer products — offering minimal benefit while creating frustration and higher maintenance costs.
