Trump's Rollback of Greenhouse Gas Rules Threatens Detroit's Air Quality

Experts warn the removal of emissions limits will increase pollution and public health risks in the city.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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The Trump administration's repeal of the EPA's 2009 endangerment finding, which recognized greenhouse gases as threats to public health, could be especially harmful for cities like Detroit, according to former EPA official Joseph Goffman. The rollback will lead to more gas-powered vehicles on the road, increasing emissions of fine particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen oxides that contribute to smog, soot, and other air pollution problems.

Why it matters

Detroit already struggles with unhealthy levels of air pollution from industrial sources and vehicle emissions. Eliminating greenhouse gas standards will make it harder for the city to meet federal air quality standards and improve public health, especially for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.

The details

The Trump administration's repeal of the endangerment finding only impacts greenhouse gas regulations, not standards for "traditional air pollutants" like particulate matter and ozone. However, the lack of greenhouse gas limits will mean more gas-powered vehicles on the road, leading to higher emissions of these other harmful pollutants. Environmental and health experts warn this will exacerbate Detroit's already poor air quality, which has earned the city failing grades for ozone and particulate pollution.

  • On February 12, 2026, the Trump administration announced the elimination of greenhouse gas standards for cars and trucks.
  • In 2024, an investigation by the EPA's Office of Inspector General found former EPA official Joseph Goffman "failed to assess whether specific parties or industries posed a potential financial conflict-of-interest" in four instances.

The players

Joseph Goffman

Former assistant administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation, who resigned from the EPA on January 20, 2025.

Abby Clark

Midwest campaign manager for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Gregory Keoleian

Professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.

Harold Wimmer

President and CEO of the American Lung Association.

Debbie Dingell

U.S. Representative (D-Ann Arbor).

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What they’re saying

“In a place like Detroit and places like Southern California, getting a handle on pollution from cars and trucks is what stands between the current air quality, which is still at unhealthy levels, and meeting the health-based standards for ozone, smog and soot.”

— Joseph Goffman, Former EPA official (Planet Detroit)

“They're particularly pernicious because they're so small in size that they can not only enter the lungs but also enter the blood. They're really implicated in just an unimaginably large number of illnesses.”

— Joseph Goffman, Former EPA official (Planet Detroit)

“There's a total lack of disregard for future generations and how climate change and other pollutants are really going to threaten their health and quality of life.”

— Gregory Keoleian, Professor, University of Michigan (Planet Detroit)

“In my district in Michigan, 41,000 people are watching their health care costs skyrocket because we didn't get the affordable tax credit extended.”

— Debbie Dingell, U.S. Representative (D-Ann Arbor) (Center for American Progress)

What’s next

The NRDC and other health and environmental groups have filed suit to challenge the Trump administration's rollback of the endangerment finding, arguing the EPA is legally obligated to limit vehicle emissions that contribute to air pollution.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's rollback of greenhouse gas regulations threatens to undermine Detroit's efforts to improve its air quality and public health, especially for vulnerable populations. This decision comes at a time when the city is already grappling with high levels of pollution from industrial sources and vehicle emissions, raising concerns about the long-term impacts on residents' wellbeing.