EPA head says he'll roll back dozens of environmental regulations, including rules on climate change
WASHINGTON – In what he called the “most consequential day of deregulation in American history,” the head of the Environmental Protection Agency announced a series of actions Wednesday to roll back landmark environmental regulations, including rules on pollution from coal-fired power plants, climate change and electric vehicles.
“We are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in an essay in The Wall Street Journal.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm%96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?VD 24E:@?D H:== 6=:>:?2E6 EC:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? C68F=2E@CJ 4@DED 2?5 “9:556? E2I6D[” +6=5:? D2:5[ =@H6C:?8 E96 4@DE @7 =:G:?8 7@C p>6C:42? 72>:=:6D 2?5 C65F4:?8 AC:46D 7@C DF49 6DD6?E:2=D DF49 2D 3FJ:?8 2 42C[ 962E:?8 J@FC 9@>6 2?5 @A6C2E:?8 2 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm“~FC 24E:@?D H:== 2=D@ C6:8?:E6 p>6C:42? >2?F724EFC:?8[ DAC625:?8 64@?@>:4 36?67:ED E@ 4@>>F?:E:6D[Q 96 HC@E6] “t?6C8J 5@>:?2?46 DE2?5D 2E E96 46?E6C @7 p>6C:42VD C6DFC86?46]”k^Am
kAmx? 2==[ +6=5:? D2:5 96 :D C@==:?8 324< b` 6?G:C@?>6?E2= CF=6D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 D4:6?E:7:4 7:?5:?8 E92E 92D =@?8 366? E96 46?EC2= 32D:D 7@C &]$] 24E:@? 282:?DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^4=:>2E6\2?5\6?G:C@?>6?EQm4=:>2E6 492?86k^2m]k^Am
kAm+6=5:? D2:5 96 2?5 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A DFAA@CE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^6A2\6?52?86C>6?E\7:?5:?8\K6=5:?\ECF>A\4=:>2E6\492?86\c3bcace5d42fhg`dc27_gde_75hc7f3hQmC6HC:E:?8 E96 286?4J’D a__h 7:?5:?8k^2m E92E A=2?6E\H2C>:?8 8C66?9@FD6 82D6D 6?52?86C AF3=:4 962=E9 2?5 H6=72C6] %96 ~32>2\6C2 56E6C>:?2E:@? F?56C E96 r=62? p:C p4E :D E96 =682= F?56CA:??:?8 @7 2 9@DE @7 4=:>2E6 C68F=2E:@?D 7@C >@E@C G69:4=6D[ A@H6C A=2?ED 2?5 @E96C A@==FE:@? D@FC46D]k^Am
kAmt?G:C@?>6?E2=:DED 2?5 4=:>2E6 D4:6?E:DED 42== E96 6?52?86C>6?E 7:?5:?8 2 365C@4< @7 &]$] =2H 2?5 D2J 2?J 2EE6>AE E@ F?5@ :E H:== 92G6 =:EE=6 492?46 @7 DF446DD]k^Am
kAm“x? E96 7246 @7 @G6CH96=>:?8 D4:6?46[ :E’D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ E9:?< E92E E96 t!p 4@F=5 56G6=@A 2 4@?EC25:4E@CJ 7:?5:?8 E92E H@F=5 DE2?5 FA :? 4@FCE[Q D2:5 s2G:5 s@?:86C[ 2 4=:>2E6 6IA6CE 2E E96 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D s676?D6 r@F?4:=[ 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 8C@FA]k^Am
kAmx? 2 C6=2E65 24E:@?[ +6=5:? D2:5 t!p H:== C6HC:E6 2 CF=6 C6DEC:4E:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A@H6C\A=2?ED\4@2=\?2EFC2=\82D\3:56?\6A2\d4he42`ce6f7f_3cfg_e363c34bf`b6eQm2:C A@==FE:@? 7C@> 7@DD:=\7F6= 7:C65 A@H6C A=2?EDk^2m 2?5 2 D6A2C2E6 >62DFC6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^6A2\6=64EC:4\G69:4=6D\6>:DD:@?D\=:>:ED\4=:>2E6\3:56?\6e5dg`bac27d`ahc_cg57acaeh3d5a_2QmC6DEC:4E:?8 6>:DD:@?D 7C@> 42CD 2?5 ECF4<Dk^2m] +6=5:? 2?5 E96 #6AF3=:42? AC6D:56?E :?4@CC64E=J =236= E96 42C CF=6 2D 2? 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 Q>2?52E6]VVk^Am
kAm!C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?VD s6>@4C2E:4 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 925 D2:5 E96 A@H6C A=2?E CF=6D H@F=5 C65F46 A@==FE:@? 2?5 :>AC@G6 AF3=:4 962=E9 H9:=6 DFAA@CE:?8 E96 C6=:23=6[ =@?8\E6C> DFAA=J @7 6=64EC:4:EJ E92E p>6C:42 ?665D]k^Am
kAmq:56?[ H9@ >256 7:89E:?8 4=:>2E6 492?86 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3:56?\4=:>2E6\962=E9\E2I\=2H\64@?@>J\:?7=2E:@?\7“a5f4fg2322fac5aahecb`f5a`b563Qm2 92==>2C< @7 9:D AC6D:56?4Jk^2m[ 4:E65 E96 42C CF=6 2D 2 <6J 724E@C :? H92E 96 42==65 “9:DE@C:4 AC@8C6DD” @? 9:D A=6586 E92E 92=7 @7 2== ?6H 42CD 2?5 ECF4<D D@=5 :? E96 &]$] H:== 36 K6C@\6>:DD:@? 3J a_b_]k^Am
kAm%96 t!p 2=D@ H:== E2<6 2:> 2E CF=6D C6DEC:4E:?8 :?5FDEC:2= A@==FE:@? @7 >6C4FCJ 2?5 @E96C 2:C E@I:?D[ 2D H6== 2D D6A2C2E6 CF=6D @? D@@E A@==FE:@? 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^6A2\ECF>A\4=62?\H2E6C\24E\H6E=2?5D\AC@E64E:@?\_a`77_2245ff3h`4c3_6f_34d42655_eQm7656C2= AC@E64E:@?D 7@C D:8?:7:42?E 2C62D @7 H6E=2?5Dk^2m[ +6=5:? D2:5 (65?6D52J] %96 t!p 92D 2=D@ E6C>:?2E65 :ED 5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? AC@8C2>D 2?5 H:== D9FEE6C A2CED @7 E96 286?4J 7@4FD65 @? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= ;FDE:46] %96 677@CE DEC:G65 E@ :>AC@G6 4@?5:E:@?D :? 2C62D 962G:=J 3FC56?65 3J :?5FDEC:2= A@==FE:@?[ >@DE=J :? =@H\:?4@>6 2?5 >2;@C:EJ\q=24< @C w:DA2?:4 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am
kAm“%9:D :D?’E 23@FE 232?5@?:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E2= AC@E64E:@? — :E’D 23@FE 249:6G:?8 :E E9C@F89 :??@G2E:@? 2?5 ?@E DEC2?8F=2E:@?[” +6=5:? HC@E6] “qJ C64@?D:56C:?8 CF=6D E92E E9C@EE=65 @:= 2?5 82D AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 F?72:C=J E2C86E65 4@2=\7:C65 A@H6C A=2?ED[ H6 2C6 6?DFC:?8 E92E p>6C:42? 6?6C8J C6>2:?D 4=62?[ 277@C523=6 2?5 C6=:23=6]”k^Am
kAm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 !6??DJ=G2?:2 4=:>2E6 D4:6?E:DE |:4926= |2?? 42==65 E96 t!p’D 24E:@? “;FDE E96 =2E6DE 7@C> @7 #6AF3=:42? 4=:>2E6 56?:2=] %96J 42? ?@ =@?86C 56?J 4=:>2E6 492?86 :D 92AA6?:?8[ D@ :?DE625 E96J’C6 AC6E6?5:?8 :E’D ?@E 2 E9C62E[ 56DA:E6 E96 @G6CH96=>:?8 D4:6?E:7:4 6G:56?46 E92E :E :D[ A6C92AD[ E96 8C62E6DE E9C62E E92E H6 7246 E@52J]”k^Am
kAm%96 5:C64E:G6 E@ C64@?D:56C E96 6?52?86C>6?E 7:?5:?8 2?5 @E96C t!p CF=6D H2D 2 C64@>>6?52E:@? @7 !C@;64E a_ad[ 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 3=F6AC:?E 7@C %CF>A’D D64@?5 E6C>] #FDD6== ‘@F89E[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 ~77:46 @7 |2?286>6?E 2?5 qF586E 2?5 4@\2FE9@C @7 !C@;64E a_ad[ 42==65 E96 24E:@?D =@?8 @G6C5F6]k^Am
kAm“t!p’D C68F=2E:@? @7 E96 4=:>2E6 27764ED E96 6?E:C6 ?2E:@?2= 64@?@>J — ;@3D[ H286D 2?5 72>:=J 3F586ED[″ ‘@F89E D2:5 (65?6D52J]k^Am
kAm“%96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D :8?@C2?46 :D ECF>A65 @?=J 3J :ED >2=:46 E@H2C5 E96 A=2?6E[” 4@F?E6C65 y2D@? #J=2?56C[ =682= 5:C64E@C 2E E96 r6?E6C 7@C q:@=@8:42= s:G6CD:EJ’D r=:>2E6 {2H x?DE:EFE6] “r@>6 96== 2?5 9:89 H2E6C[ C28:?8 7:C6D 2?5 5625=J 962EH2G6D[ %CF>A 2?5 9:D 4C@?:6D 2C6 36?E @? AFEE:?8 A@==FE6C AC@7:ED 29625 @7 A6@A=6’D =:G6D]Qk^Am
kAm#64@?D:56C:?8 E96 6?52?86C>6?E 7:?5:?8 2?5 @E96C 24E:@?D “H@?’E DE2?5 FA :? 4@FCE[VV #J=2?56C D2:5] ”(6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 7:89E :E 6G6CJ DE6A @7 E96 H2J]”k^Am
kAm%96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?2>`a]D276=:?<D]AC@E64E:@?]@FE=@@<]4@>^nFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]6A2]8@GTau8986>:DD:@?DTau8=@32=\8C66?9@FD6\82D\@G6CG:6HU2>Aj52E2l_dTfr_aTfr>52=JTc_2A]@C8Tfrg7b_452_ch`7cb`gfg54_g55e`heeabaTfr6cca6`2375e3c32b237b3_a_63d_57bfTfr`Tfr_Tfrebgffc_a_fa`__dgagTfr&?<?@H?Tfr%(uA3v+D3b5g6Jyu3)q_6&`94v<:~?#J5(&Dx=*:~:xH{;pF|spH|rxDx=p:~:y)2(cK|:xDx<u~x;@:%(uA3rxDx=5&x;@J7“TbsTbsTfr_TfrTfrTfrU2>AjD52E2ly9br%s+KG~~df>e_r;>E!+G8IF>&”*y”G@92DHTaq8IyHTbsU2>AjC6D6CG65l_QmD64@?5 =2C86DEk^2m 42C3@? A@==FE6C :? E96 H@C=5[ 27E6C r9:?2[ 2?5 E96 =2C86DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?2>`a]D276=:?<D]AC@E64E:@?]@FE=@@<]4@>^nFC=l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]42C3@?3C:67]@C8Tau2?2=JD:D\H9:49\4@F?EC:6D\2C6\9:DE@C:42==J\C6DA@?D:3=6\7@C\4=:>2E6\492?86TauU2>Aj52E2l_dTfr_aTfr>52=JTc_2A]@C8Tfrg7b_452_ch`7cb`gfg54_g55e`heeabaTfr6cca6`2375e3c32b237b3_a_63d_57bfTfr`Tfr_Tfrebgffc_a_fa`_a_bgaTfr&?<?@H?Tfr%(uA3v+D3b5g6Jyu3)q_6&`94v<:~?#J5(&Dx=*:~:xH{;pF|spH|rxDx=p:~:y)2(cK|:xDx<u~x;@:%(uA3rxDx=5&x;@J7“TbsTbsTfr_TfrTfrTfrU2>AjD52E2l%wHg@$gryg@8f5hh!5D|TaqxD`=vrrK4uc:’w@&x}s&uxTbsU2>AjC6D6CG65l_Qm9:DE@C:42= 6>:EE6Ck^2m @7 8C66?9@FD6 82D6D]k^Am
kAm%96 >@G6D E@ E6C>:?2E6 6?G:C@?>6?E2= ;FDE:46 DE277 7@==@HD 2? 24E:@? =2DE H66< E@ 5C@A 2 42D6 282:?DE 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\=@F:D:2?2\42?46C\56?<2\49=@C@AC6?6\6A2\=2HDF:E\gh3`7gf_g`e7edbf_663fd77aeh6h4_6RiOiE6IEl(p$wx}v%~}Ta_Wp!XTa_TtaTg_ThcTa_%96Ta_yFDE:46[!C6D:56?ETa_Ws@?2=5XTa_%CF>AUR_bhjDTa_AC@>:D6Ta_E@Qm{@F:D:2?2 A6EC@496>:42= A=2?Ek^2m 244FD65 @7 :?4C62D:?8 42?46C C:D< :? 2 >2;@C:EJ\q=24< 4@>>F?:EJ] +6=5:? 42==65 6?G:C@?>6?E2= ;FDE:46 2 E6C> E92E “92D 366? FD65 AC:>2C:=J 2D 2? 6I4FD6 E@ 7F?5 =67E\H:?8 24E:G:DED :?DE625 @7 24EF2==J DA6?5:?8 E9@D6 5@==2CD E@ 5:C64E=J C6>65:2E6 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :DDF6D 7@C E9@D6 4@>>F?:E:6D]”k^Am
kAm|2EE96H %6;252[ H9@ @?46 =65 t!p’D 6?G:C@?>6?E2= ;FDE:46 @77:46[ D2:5 %CF>A 2?5 +6=5:? H6C6 QE2<:?8 FD 324< E@ 2 E:>6 @7 F?76EE6C65 A@==FE:@? 24C@DD E96 ?2E:@?[ =62G:?8 6G6CJ p>6C:42? 6IA@D65 E@ E@I:4 496>:42=D[ 5:CEJ 2:C 2?5 4@?E2>:?2E65 H2E6C]” %6;252 ?@H H@C<D 2E E96 }#sr]k^Am
kAmp??6 qC253FCJ[ rt~ @7 E96 p>6C:42? tIA=@C2E:@? U2>Aj !C@5F4E:@? r@F?4:=[ 2? @:= :?5FDECJ 8C@FA[ 92:=65 +6=5:?VD 24E:@?D 2?5 D2:5 E96 &]$] :D “DEC@?86C 2?5 >@C6 D64FC6 H96? H6 2C6 6?6C8J 5@>:?2?E]Qk^Am
kAmw6C 8C@FA 92D =@?8 42==65 7@C 492?86D E@ t!p CF=6D D@ E96J 2C6 “H@C<23=6[ 67764E:G6 2?5 3F:=5 @? E96 D:8?:7:42?E 6>:DD:@?D C65F4E:@?DQ >256 3J @:= 2?5 82D AC@5F46CD[ qC253FCJ D2:5] “(6 DFAA@CE FA52E:?8 E96D6 CF=6D D@ E96 p>6C:42? A6@A=6 42? 4@?E:?F6 E@ 36?67:E 7C@> 277@C523=6[ C6=:23=6 2?5 4=62? p>6C:42? 6?6C8J]”k^Am
kAm}6H y6CD6J #6A] uC2?< !2==@?6[ E96 E@A s6>@4C2E @? E96 w@FD6 t?6C8J 2?5 r@>>6C46 r@>>:EE66[ 42==65 +6=5:?VD 24E:@?D “2 56DA:423=6 36EC2J2= @7 E96 p>6C:42? A6@A=6]”k^Am
kAmtG6CJ 52J[ >@C6 p>6C:42?D =@D6 E96:C ;@3D[ 9@>6D 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^=@D\2?86=6D\H:=57:C6D\D@FE96C?\42=:7@C?:2\4dgae6_23g53hed43ag`c`ba77dc66e7Qm6G6? E96:C =:G6D E@ H@CD6?:?8 4=:>2E6 5:D2DE6CDk^2m[ !2==@?6 D2:5] %CF>A 2?5 +6=5:? “2C6 >2<:?8 2 >@4<6CJ @7 E9@D6 A6@A=6’D A2:?[” !2==@?6 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E QH:== 92G6 DH:7E 2?5 42E2DEC@A9:4 C2>:7:42E:@?D 7@C E96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 962=E9 @7 2== p>6C:42?D]VVk^Am
k9C ^m
kAmpDD@4:2E65 !C6DD HC:E6C |:4926= !9:==:D :? $E] {@F:D 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D C6A@CE]k^Am
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.