The Trump administration is rolling back clean-air and water protections, making it easier for big polluters to release harmful emissions and chemicals. It moved to cancel California’s tougher vehicle standards, undo the legal basis for federal tailpipe limits, and weaken rules on power plants—including mercury and carbon pollution—while delaying methane cuts from oil and gas. It is also pushing back deadlines and softening limits on toxic “forever chemicals” (PFAS), coal ash, and wastewater, which raises the risk of contaminated drinking water. In Congress, allies used the Congressional Review Act to overturn stronger pollution rules, and the White House scrapped key environmental review standards. Health experts warn these changes mean more asthma attacks, heart problems, and other serious illnesses—especially for children, seniors, and people who work outdoors.
¶ The administration is dismantling vehicle emission safeguards and preventing states from protecting their own air
- On June 12, 2025, President Trump signed Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions nullifying EPA’s approvals of California’s Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and “Omnibus” low‑NOx waivers; under the CRA, EPA cannot issue future waivers “substantially the same,” constraining states’ stricter clean‑air programs. (whitehouse.gov)
- EPA publicly “hailed” the Senate votes on those CRA resolutions and said that, once signed, the Agency would move “expeditiously” to remove the waivers and also reconsider the rules. (epa.gov)
- On July 29, 2025, EPA proposed rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding and removing greenhouse‑gas regulations for highway vehicles and engines—eliminating the legal basis for federal tailpipe limits. (epa.gov)
- Reuters reported the administration’s plan to repeal vehicle greenhouse gas standards after moving to revoke the Endangerment Finding, signaling a broad rollback of transportation air‑pollution controls. (reuters.com)
- The House considered a CRA resolution (H.J.Res. 136) to disapprove EPA’s 2024 “Multi‑Pollutant” standards for 2027+ light/medium‑duty vehicles, illustrating a coordinated legislative push to scrap stricter tailpipe standards. (congress.gov)
¶ Trump and republicans are allowing coal polluters to emit more mercury into our air
- EPA proposed to repeal all Clean Air Act Section 111 greenhouse‑gas standards for new and existing fossil‑fueled power plants, and to undo 2024 carbon rules—an across‑the‑board retreat from power‑sector pollution limits. (epa.gov)
- The White House granted two years of relief from stricter Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) requirements for certain coal plants, and EPA moved to reconsider and weaken 2024 MATS amendments. (whitehouse.gov)
- Reuters reported EPA granted two‑year MATS exemptions to dozens of coal‑plant companies, extending the life of highly polluting units. (reuters.com)
- EPA stayed 2025 compliance deadlines for the Integrated Iron and Steel hazardous‑air‑pollutant rule while reconsidering key requirements, delaying toxic‑emission controls. (federalregister.gov)
- EPA issued an interim final rule extending compliance deadlines in the 2024 oil‑and‑gas methane rule, deferring required pollution reductions from that sector. (epa.gov)
- EPA announced it will extend the compliance deadline for PFOA/PFOS drinking‑water limits to 2031 and rescind/re‑propose parts of the 2024 PFAS standard covering other PFAS, delaying protections for millions of people exposed to “forever chemicals.” (epa.gov)
- The Washington Post reported EPA plans to rescind limits for four PFAS covered by the 2024 rule and push back compliance, despite widespread exposure and serious health risks. (washingtonpost.com)
- EPA extended coal‑ash (CCR) management deadlines—pushing key reporting to 2027 and groundwater‑monitoring requirements to as late as 2029—slowing cleanup at sites that threaten water quality. (epa.gov)
- EPA announced it will revise 2024 Steam‑Electric Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs) for coal plants, reconsidering stricter limits on toxic wastewater discharges to rivers and lakes. (epa.gov)
- EPA’s own PFAS rulemaking record shows the 2024 national PFAS drinking‑water standards were designed to prevent thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of serious illnesses—illustrating the public‑health stakes of the rollbacks and delays. (epa.gov)
- On May 1, 2025, the Senate voted to overturn an EPA rule tightening controls on seven highly hazardous air pollutants under the CRA—an unprecedented weakening of Clean Air Act protections in the chamber. (washingtonpost.com)
- The Council on Environmental Quality rescinded government‑wide NEPA implementing regulations following a Trump executive order—removing uniform environmental‑review rules that inform air‑ and water‑quality impacts before federal approvals. (federalregister.gov)
- EPA’s health record shows particle pollution (PM2.5) causes heart attacks, worsens asthma, and contributes to premature death; the 2024 soot standard was tightened to better protect public health. (epa.gov)
- EPA documents that ground‑level ozone exacerbates asthma and increases hospitalizations and respiratory mortality, especially for children, seniors, and outdoor workers. (epa.gov)
- EPA’s PFAS drinking‑water rule was adopted to reduce exposure for ~100 million people and “prevent thousands of deaths” and tens of thousands of serious illnesses—underscoring the consequences of delaying and rescinding parts of the standard. (epa.gov)
- CDC‑ and state‑focused reporting shows layoffs and funding delays have slowed lead‑poisoning prevention and threatened lead‑pipe replacement progress, heightening risks for children. (washingtonpost.com)