Attorney General Raoul Leads Coalition Challenging Rollback Of Limits On Hazardous Power Plant Emissions

21-state coalition sues to reverse Trump administration's repeal of updated Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:30pm

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A photorealistic painting of a solitary industrial smokestack rising into a hazy sky, with the structure bathed in warm, dramatic lighting and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet melancholy and the looming threat of unchecked industrial emissions.As the Trump administration rolls back limits on toxic power plant emissions, a legal battle brews over the public health impacts of unchecked air pollution.Chicago Today

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is leading a coalition of 21 states and local governments in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's rollback of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule. The MATS Rule set nationwide limits on emissions of toxic air pollutants like mercury, arsenic, and lead from coal- and oil-fired power plants. The Trump administration recently repealed the updated 2024 standards, reverting to older, less stringent limits that will allow more of these dangerous pollutants to be released into the air.

Why it matters

Mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from power plants can travel long distances and contaminate waterways, harming local economies, wildlife, and public health, especially for vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children living near these facilities. The rollback of the MATS Rule will lead to increased exposure to these toxic substances, which are linked to serious health issues like developmental disorders, neurological damage, and cardiovascular disease.

The details

The MATS Rule implemented nationwide standards to limit emissions of toxic air pollutants like mercury, arsenic, lead, acid gases, and formaldehyde from coal- and oil-fired power plants. In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency updated these standards based on advancements in pollution control technologies. However, the Trump administration has now repealed the updated 2024 standards, reverting to the older, less stringent limits.

  • In 2024, the EPA updated the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule to set stricter limits on power plant emissions.
  • In April 2026, the Trump administration repealed the updated 2024 MATS standards, allowing for more hazardous air pollutants to be released.

The players

Kwame Raoul

The Attorney General of Illinois, leading a coalition of 21 states and local governments in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's rollback of the MATS Rule.

Keith Ellison

The Attorney General of Minnesota, co-leading the coalition with Raoul.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The federal agency that updated the MATS Rule in 2024 to set stricter limits on power plant emissions of hazardous air pollutants, and then later repealed those updated standards under the Trump administration.

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What they’re saying

“The Trump administration has made a significant step backwards, allowing more toxic air pollution that will harm our communities.”

— Kwame Raoul, Attorney General of Illinois

“Mercury and other types of pollution from fossil fuel power plants cause serious negative health effects, especially for children. I'm committed to fighting back against this administration's attacks on crucial protections for our health and the environment.”

— Kwame Raoul, Attorney General of Illinois

What’s next

The coalition of states and local governments is asking the court to determine that the Trump administration's repeal of the updated MATS Rule is unlawful and must be reversed.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing battle between environmental protection and industry deregulation, with state leaders fighting to maintain crucial limits on hazardous air pollutants that can have devastating public health impacts, especially for vulnerable populations living near power plants.