Health and Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Endangerment Finding Repeal

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A coalition of health and environmental organizations has filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its administrator, Lee Zeldin, over the agency's recent repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding. This finding gave the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from various sources, including vehicles and power plants. The lawsuit argues that the Clean Air Act legally requires the EPA to limit emissions of any air pollutant that may endanger public health or welfare.

Why it matters

The Endangerment Finding was a key component of the Obama administration's efforts to address climate change by regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The Trump administration's repeal of this finding is seen by the plaintiffs as a rollback of important environmental protections, with potential negative impacts on public health and the environment.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and is being brought by a group of organizations, including the American Public Health Association, the American Lung Association, and the Sierra Club. The plaintiffs argue that the EPA is legally required to limit emissions of any air pollutant that may endanger public health or welfare, and that the Trump administration is "rehashing legal arguments" that were already rejected by the Supreme Court in the 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA case.

• On February 12, 2026, President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding.
• Less than a week after the repeal, the coalition of health and environmental organizations filed the lawsuit against the EPA and Zeldin.

What’s next

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear arguments in the case and make a ruling on the legality of the EPA's repeal of the Endangerment Finding.