EPA Rescinds Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, Raising Health Concerns

The Trump administration's move to roll back Obama-era climate regulations could have major implications for public health, experts warn.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it is rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding, which determined that six key greenhouse gases threaten human health and welfare. This finding has served as the legal basis for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. Experts warn that this rollback could lead to higher pollution levels and increased health risks, including cardiovascular issues, respiratory problems, and mental health impacts.

Why it matters

The endangerment finding has been crucial in establishing regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from sources like vehicles, power plants, and other major emitters. Rescinding this finding could remove the legal foundation for these regulations, potentially leading to higher levels of air pollution and associated health consequences.

The details

The EPA's decision to rescind the endangerment finding stems from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, Massachusetts v. EPA, which held that the agency could regulate greenhouse gases as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Experts argue that decades of research have clearly demonstrated the link between greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and negative health impacts, including increased risk of heat-related illnesses, wildfires, and air pollution-related conditions.

  • The EPA announced the rescission of the endangerment finding on February 13, 2026.
  • The 2007 Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA established the legal basis for the endangerment finding.

The players

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment, including regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who called the EPA's move 'the single largest deregulatory action in American history'.

Dr. Ana Navas-Acien

Chair of the department of environmental health sciences at Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, who argues the scientific evidence linking greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and health impacts is overwhelming.

Kai Chen

Associate professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and faculty director of the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, who warns the EPA's rollback will threaten millions of Americans' lives.

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What they’re saying

“The scientific evidence showing the connection between greenhouse emissions, climate change and then the related health effects — it's massive, it's substantial, it has been reviewed by independent organizations.”

— Dr. Ana Navas-Acien, Chair of the department of environmental health sciences at Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University (ABC News)

“Climate change is impacting our health right now. It's not a political debate. It is science and the science is clear. We need to take action.”

— Kai Chen, Associate professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and faculty director of the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health (ABC News)

What’s next

The EPA's decision to rescind the endangerment finding is expected to face legal challenges, and the agency's next steps will likely be determined by the outcome of those proceedings.

The takeaway

The EPA's rollback of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding, despite overwhelming scientific evidence of the health impacts of climate change, raises serious concerns about the federal government's commitment to protecting public health and the environment.