EPA Faces First Lawsuit Over Killing Major Climate Rule

Environmental and health groups file lawsuit challenging EPA's rollback of 'endangerment finding' that underpinned climate regulations.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Environmental Protection Agency is facing its first lawsuit over its decision to revoke the 'endangerment finding' that had formed the legal basis for federal climate regulations. Environmental and health groups filed the lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, arguing the EPA's move was illegal.

Why it matters

The 'endangerment finding' was a key scientific conclusion by the EPA that greenhouse gases endanger public health and the environment. This finding had allowed the government to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The lawsuit claims the EPA is now trying to rewrite the law to boost polluting industries.

The details

In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled the EPA was required to issue a scientific determination on whether greenhouse gases were a threat to public health under the Clean Air Act and to regulate them if they were. In 2009, the EPA issued the 'endangerment finding' in response. Now the EPA has revoked this finding, potentially eliminating the legal basis for federal climate regulations.

  • In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled the EPA must issue a scientific determination on greenhouse gases.
  • In 2009, the EPA issued the 'endangerment finding' in response to the 2007 Supreme Court ruling.
  • On February 18, 2026, environmental and health groups filed a lawsuit challenging the EPA's revocation of the 'endangerment finding'.

The players

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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

Earthjustice

A nonprofit environmental law organization representing the groups that filed the lawsuit against the EPA.

Lee Zeldin

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency who announced the revocation of the 'endangerment finding'.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who joined the EPA Administrator in announcing the revocation of the 'endangerment finding'.

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What they’re saying

“With this action, EPA flips its mission on its head. It abandons its core mandate to protect human health and the environment to boost polluting industries and attempts to rewrite the law in order to do so.”

— Hana Vizcarra, Senior lawyer at Earthjustice

“If they don't, then you are agreeing that we should not regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, full stop. I don't think any environmentalist, I think a majority of the public, does not agree with that statement at all.”

— William Piermattei, Managing Director of the Environmental Law Program at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

What’s next

The lawsuit against the EPA's revocation of the 'endangerment finding' is likely to end up before the Supreme Court, which is now more conservative than when it ruled on the issue in 2007.

The takeaway

This legal battle over the EPA's rollback of the 'endangerment finding' will have major implications for the future of federal climate regulations in the United States. The outcome could force Congress to step in and pass new legislation to address greenhouse gas emissions if the EPA's actions are upheld.