Trump Administration Moves to Repeal Climate Endangerment Finding

Critics say the move will worsen the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Trump administration is seeking to repeal the EPA's scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare, a move that would undermine the government's authority and obligation to address climate change. This comes as climate change is already exacerbating extreme weather events and air quality issues, disproportionately impacting low-income communities and communities of color.

Why it matters

Repealing the endangerment finding would remove the legal basis for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, effectively abandoning communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. This would worsen the impacts of extreme heat, wildfires, and other climate-related disasters that are already harming vulnerable populations.

The details

The Trump administration is moving to overturn the EPA's "endangerment finding," a 2009 scientific determination that greenhouse gas emissions threaten public health and welfare. This finding has provided the legal foundation for the EPA to regulate emissions and take action on climate change. By revoking this finding, the administration aims to remove the government's obligation to address the climate crisis.

  • The endangerment finding has been in place for 15 years, affirmed by the Supreme Court.
  • The Trump administration is now seeking to repeal the finding in 2026.

The players

Trump Administration

The current presidential administration, led by former President Donald Trump, which is seeking to repeal the EPA's scientific finding on greenhouse gas endangerment.

EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which made the 2009 endangerment finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare.

Eaton Canyon Nature Center

A community space in Altadena, California that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, highlighting the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Instead of protecting us and our children from the climate crisis, the Trump administration is making climate denial official government policy.”

— Byron Gudiel, Author (thehill.com)

“Climate change threatens every one of us, and crucially, it does not threaten us all equally. People in the communities with the most pollution and the least resilient infrastructure — typically communities of color and low-income communities — are hurting the most.”

— Byron Gudiel, Author (thehill.com)

What’s next

The Trump administration's move to repeal the endangerment finding will likely face legal challenges, as the finding has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Congress may also seek to intervene and protect the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's efforts to dismantle climate protections and abandon vulnerable communities on the frontlines of the crisis underscores the need for urgent action to address the root causes of climate change and build resilience in impacted areas.