Trump Administration Ends Obama-Era EPA Rules in Massive Deregulation Effort

The EPA is advising automakers to end use of stop-start technology, along with many other major changes.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Trump administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have announced massive changes to the nation's environmental policy, moving to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding results on which the United States of America's current emissions regulations are based. President Trump and EPA administrator Lee Zeldin maintain that this is the single largest deregulation action in American history.

Why it matters

The 2009 Endangerment Finding was the basis for the Obama administration's tighter emissions regulations for new vehicle fleets and powertrains. Rescinding these findings could have major implications for the auto industry and environmental policy in the U.S. and globally.

The details

Back in 2009, EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson signed two distinct findings related to the endangerment brought by and causes of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The Obama administration and the EPA moved to limit these specific gases based on the results of the Endangerment Finding study. The Trump administration previously called the 2009 findings 'one of the most damaging decisions in modern history,' and further claims the EPA would not have had the statutory authority under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act to make those regulations without Jackson's sign-off. The EPA under Zeldin first proposed rescinding the findings altogether back in July 2025, and has already rolled back tailpipe emissions regulations established by his political predecessors.

  • In 2009, EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson signed the Endangerment Finding.
  • In July 2025, the EPA under Zeldin first proposed rescinding the Endangerment Finding.
  • In February 2026, the Trump administration and EPA announced the rescission of the Endangerment Finding.

The players

Lisa P. Jackson

Former EPA administrator who signed the 2009 Endangerment Finding.

Lee Zeldin

Current EPA administrator under the Trump administration.

Donald Trump

President of the United States who has called the 2009 Endangerment Finding 'one of the most damaging decisions in modern history.'

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The EPA will be advising automakers to kill start-stop technology, which was referred to as the 'Obama Switch' during the press conference.

The takeaway

This massive deregulation effort by the Trump administration could have far-reaching implications for the auto industry and environmental policy in the United States and globally, as the 2009 Endangerment Finding was the basis for the Obama administration's tighter emissions regulations.