Trump EPA aims to repeal vehicle emission rules after revoking greenhouse gas endangerment finding
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-epa-aims-repeal-vehicle-emission-rules-after-revoking-greenhouse-gas-2025-07-24/
Summary says EPA will seek to repeal all vehicle, engine emission standards
Rescission of scientific finding open for public comment soon
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WASHINGTON, July 24 (JP) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to repeal all greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines in the coming days after it removes the scientific finding that justified those rules, according to a summary of the proposal.
In a draft of a summary of the forthcoming proposal, seen by JP, the agency is expected to say that the Clean Air Act does not authorize the EPA to impose emission standards to address global climate change concerns and will rescind the finding that GHG emissions from new motor vehicles and engines endanger public health or welfare.
It is also expected to justify rescinding the endangerment finding by casting doubt on the scientific record used to make the finding.
“We further propose, in the alternative, to rescind the Administrator’s findings because the EPA unreasonably analyzed the scientific record and because developments cast significant doubt on the reliability of the findings,” the summary says.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark Massachusetts v. EPA case in 2007, said the EPA has authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and required the agency to make a scientific finding on whether they endanger public health.
In 2009, the EPA under former President Barack Obama issued a finding that emissions from new motor vehicles contribute to pollution and endanger public health and welfare. It was upheld in several legal challenges and underpinned subsequent greenhouse gas regulations.
The summary also says that one of its rationales for repealing the vehicle standards is that the required technology to reduce emissions would risk greater harms to public health and welfare.
Former President Joe Biden’s administration said the standards would hike upfront vehicle prices but save consumers money in the long run after accounting for lower fuel costs.
The agency is likely to announce the proposal in the coming days, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named.
The EPA said it had sent its proposal to reconsider the endangerment finding to the White House for review on June 30. “The proposal will be published for public notice and comment once it has completed interagency review and been signed by the Administrator,” the agency said.