US President Donald Trump has scrapped a pivotal scientific policy introduced during Barack Obama’s presidency, a decision that has long formed the backbone of federal efforts to limit planet-heating emissions.
The 2009 “endangerment finding” concluded that several greenhouse gases posed a risk to public health and welfare. It subsequently became the legal cornerstone for nationwide climate regulation, particularly in relation to vehicle emissions standards.
The White House described the move as the “largest deregulation in American history”, arguing that it would reduce manufacturing costs and ultimately lower car prices.
Officials claimed the change would save automakers approximately $2,400 per vehicle (around €2,220), making new cars more affordable for consumers.
Environmental campaigners, however, have condemned the decision as the most sweeping attempt yet to roll back climate safeguards. Several organisations have indicated they intend to challenge the reversal through the courts.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump characterised the original 2009 determination as “a disastrous Obama-era policy” that he said had inflicted serious harm on the American motor industry and driven up costs for buyers.
He also criticised the Democrats’ broader climate platform, referring to it as a “radical rule” underpinning what he termed the “Green New Scam”.
Former President Barack Obama, who rarely intervenes publicly on the actions of serving presidents, warned that removing the finding would leave Americans more exposed to environmental and health risks.
Writing on X, he argued that without the ruling in place, the country would be “less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change — all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.”