Lee Zeldin's Deregulatory Journey As Trump's EPA Probe
Since Lee Zeldin took office as the administrator of the EPA for President Trump's second term, The EPA has been focused on deregulation. On March 12th, 2025, Zeldin released a video announcing "the largest deregulatory action in United States History". In this video, he explains how he will move forward with 31 actions in an effort to "unleash American energy." He then refers to the Clean Power Plan 2.0, toxic air standards, PM 2.5, NESHAP, and the 2009 endangerment finding as "suffocating rules." Unfortunately, the Zeldin's EPA has kept their promise. NESHAP amendments have been repealed and compliance standards revoked. On May 7th, 2025, the EPA proposed to repeal specific amendments of NESHAP for coal and gas fired power plants. On February 24th, 2026, the EPA finalized the rule to repeal the filterable particulate matter emissions standard which was regulated by NESHAP under the Mercury and Air Toxins Standard (MATS.) In July, the EPA issued a partial stay on NESHAP compliance for integrated steel mills, essentially giving them the green light for unregulated particulate matter pollution.
Photo: Gianni Laudadio, 2025
Arguably the most critical action by Zeldin since he took office came on February 12th, 2026 when he repealed what President Trump called the "ridiculous and disastrous" endangerment finding of 2009. The endangerment finding that Zeldin called "the holy grail of the climate change religion" allowed GHG emissions to be regulated by the Clean Air Act. With the endangerment finding now repealed, the federal government holds no jurisdiction to regulate emissions and fight climate change. The repealing of the endangerment finding along with many of the other deregulatory actions shows the blatant disregard this administration has for the health of the American public, as well as the well being of the world. The endangerment finding essentially states that greenhouse gasses pose a threat to human health and contribute to climate change. Almost everywhere else in the world, this is becoming common knowledge, and not by accident. There is an overwhelmingly conclusive body of scientific evidence dating back hundreds of years that prove we are artificially warming the planet through emissions of greenhouse gasses. To go against this body of evidence is not only flawed logically but an ethical violation. Many of these regulations have been set in place based upon scientific evidence with safety in mind. This deregulation not only affects the safety of Americans now, but will make it far more difficult for future policymakers to instill change.
Seeing a trend in Trump admin being established based on their affiliations, rather than their careers, legitimacy, virtue of character, reliability, dependent thinking, public interest, [...]. Very dangerous to allow an oligarch to establish his own cabinet unchecked.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, by the by.
At this point it's hard for me to understand how anyone still thinks that Trump's administration has their best interests in mind. This repeal will cause a domino effect with serious consequences, and I agree, it is an ethical violation. Good job :)
ReplyDeleteThis highlights how sweeping Zeldin’s rollbacks are weakening pollution rules and even removing the endangerment finding. Taking away the ability to regulate emissions while easing industry limits puts public health at risk and makes future climate action much harder.
ReplyDeleteI like that you point out how this is an ethical violation. At this point, it should be a human right to have clean air, water, etc.. and for the Trump admin to blatantly ignore something that is, as you said becoming common knowledge to the rest of the world, how can this not be a justifiable human right to have regulated standards?
ReplyDeleteSo true. The EPA, just another bureaucratic acronym that prioritizes capitalistic greed at the expense of all other life... While people like Trump and Zeldin will sit comfortably in places like Mar-a-Lago, vulnerable people are neglected and used as "expendable". They should feel much more shame but we know by now there has been a longstanding spreading disease of apathy. John Locke would agree with me that they are unconstitutionally taking away progress that was built by many of the ancestors of the oppressed. They are failing to protect our Life and "Property".
ReplyDeleteI really liked your blog post! I liked how you discussed that deregulation essentially means the US government no longer has rights to fight climate change. I also liked how you included that the endangerment finding is widely accepted throughout the world, but not in the US.
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ReplyDeleteYour point about the repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding being an ethical violation is very powerful. Since the federal government now claims to hold no jurisdiction over emissions, what do you think the next step is for state-level EPAs to protect their own air quality?
ReplyDeleteunfortunately, the states hold little power in regulating air quality, thats why its so important that the EPA holds strong.
DeleteThis information is truly the stuff of nightmares. To now know that the people in the government have basically stopped the government from having any power to regulate against climate change is very worrisome for the future of climate change laws and regulations.
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