Trump EPA Repeals Endangerment Finding, Weakens Vehicle Emissions Rules

The Trump administration's rejection of the endangerment ruling that said greenhouse gas is dangerous has triggered vigorous pushback.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Trump administration's EPA has repealed the endangerment finding that provided the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. This move also led to the lowering of federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) goals to 34.5 mpg by 2031, down from 50 mpg under the previous administration. The decision has faced strong criticism from environmental groups and some lawmakers, who argue that it prioritizes fossil fuel profits over public health and the environment.

Why it matters

The endangerment finding, enacted under the Biden administration in 2009, was the legal foundation for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, including from the transportation sector, which is the largest emitter in the country. By repealing this finding, the Trump EPA has removed the government's ability to put any meaningful brakes on climate emissions, giving the auto industry permission to stop prioritizing fuel economy improvements.

The details

The Trump administration's EPA, led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced on February 12 that it was repealing the endangerment finding, claiming it had "no basis in law" and "no basis in fact." However, the 2007 Supreme Court ruling had clearly established that climate emissions are air pollution under the jurisdiction of the Clean Air Act. The move is seen as a "direct assault on science, knowledge, and public health" that "prioritizes fossil-fuel profits over American lives." It has also triggered legal challenges from California and other states, as well as from environmental groups.

  • The endangerment finding was enacted under the Biden administration in 2009.
  • The Trump EPA announced the repeal of the endangerment finding on February 12, 2026.

The players

Lee Zeldin

EPA Administrator under the Trump administration.

Donald Trump

Former President of the United States.

Al Gore

Former Vice President of the United States.

Dan Becker

Director of the Center for Biological Diversity's Safe Climate Transport Campaign.

Gretchen Goldman

CEO of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

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What they’re saying

“A direct assault on science, knowledge, and public health… prioritizing fossil-fuel profits over American lives.”

— Al Gore

“The science, the facts, and the law are unassailable: EPA has the obligation and the authority to regulate this pollution under the Clean Air Act, an act of Congress it's now blatantly violating. By scrapping vehicle global warming pollution standards today, the Trump administration has co-signed the release of more than seven billion tons of planet-warming emissions nationally in the decades ahead.”

— Gretchen Goldman, CEO, Union of Concerned Scientists

“They're popping champagne corks at the OPEC and GM headquarters but also in Beijing, where China's EV makers will face no competition from the US to dominate the world's clean car market.”

— Dan Becker, Director, Center for Biological Diversity's Safe Climate Transport Campaign

What’s next

California and 10 other states are putting up a vigorous appeal against the Trump administration's decision to revoke the state's Clean Air Act waiver. Additionally, California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading 20 states in an action against the weak fuel economy standards, known as the SAFE Vehicles Rule III.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's repeal of the endangerment finding and weakening of vehicle emissions rules is a major setback in the fight against climate change. It not only removes the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions, but also gives the auto industry a free pass to prioritize profits over fuel efficiency and emissions reductions. This decision is expected to have far-reaching consequences, from increased emissions and public health impacts to the potential loss of American leadership in the global clean vehicle market.