Trump Administration Rescinds Climate Regulations, Shifting Burden to States

Washington state vows legal action to challenge federal rollback of vehicle emission standards and climate policies.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Trump administration has moved to eliminate the U.S. government's ability to fight climate change, revoking the EPA's "endangerment finding" that greenhouse gas emissions threaten human welfare. This action jeopardizes state-level efforts to control pollution from motor vehicles, including Washington state's push for a rapid transition to electric vehicles. State leaders have vowed to challenge the federal rollback in court, arguing the move ignores science and threatens communities.

Why it matters

The federal government's decision to abandon climate regulations shifts the burden to states like Washington to take action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy. This creates legal uncertainty and could undermine state-level climate policies, making it more difficult to address the growing impacts of climate change.

The details

The Trump administration's move eliminates the legal basis for the EPA to regulate carbon pollution from cars, trucks, and other sources under the Clean Air Act. This reverses a 2009 "endangerment finding" by the Obama administration that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. The EPA now claims it still has the authority to prevent states from regulating vehicle emissions, setting up a legal battle over state climate policies. Washington state is currently phasing out petroleum-powered vehicles, requiring all new passenger cars and a significant portion of medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold in the state to have zero emissions by 2035.

  • On February 13, 2026, the Trump administration announced the repeal of the EPA's "endangerment finding" on greenhouse gas emissions.
  • In June 2025, the Trump administration rescinded California's waiver to set its own vehicle emission standards, which Washington and other states have adopted.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who oversaw the rollback of federal climate regulations and the EPA's authority to address greenhouse gas emissions.

Lee Zeldin

The EPA Administrator under President Trump who announced the repeal of the "endangerment finding" and termination of emission standards.

Bob Ferguson

The Governor of Washington who vowed to challenge the federal action in court, arguing it ignores science and threatens communities.

Nick Brown

The Attorney General of Washington who said leaving greenhouse gas pollution unchecked would "invite catastrophe" and that the state would not let the federal action "go unchallenged."

Jim Walsh

The Washington state Republican Party chair and state representative who called the now-defunct "endangerment finding" a "thin branch" supporting heavy regulation.

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What they’re saying

“This federal action is unlawful, ignores basic science and denies what we can see with our own two eyes: Climate change endangers our communities and our health – period.”

— Bob Ferguson, Governor of Washington (Email statement)

“For the sake of our communities and our future, this illegal action will not go unchallenged.”

— Nick Brown, Attorney General of Washington (Email statement)

“This is a good thing. It will allow the streamlining and, frankly, rationalization of public policy that has not been streamlined and not been rational in quite a long time.”

— Jim Walsh, Washington state Republican Party chair and state representative (Interview)

What’s next

Washington state and other states that have adopted California's stricter vehicle emission standards are expected to file lawsuits challenging the federal government's move to revoke California's waiver and prevent state-level climate action.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's decision to eliminate the federal government's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and other sources shifts the burden to states like Washington to take aggressive action on climate change. This creates legal uncertainty and could undermine state-level policies, making it more difficult to address the growing impacts of the climate crisis in local communities.