The Trump administration is preparing to finalize the repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a critical benchmark established during Barack Obama's presidency that recognized the threat posed by greenhouse gases to public health and the environment. This announcement, expected on Thursday, underscores the administration’s deregulatory agenda which advocates for reduced federal oversight on environmental protections. The Endangerment Finding allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement regulations targeting harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which are major contributors to climate change.

By repealing this finding, the Trump administration positions itself against decades of scientific consensus on climate change and its potential harms. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that this action represents the largest deregulation effort in U.S. history, claiming it would save Americans $1.3 trillion by relieving them from stringent regulations. Critics, including environmentalists and scientists, argue that dismantling this foundational regulation threatens public health and undermines the U.S.'s ability to mitigate climate change and fulfill its global responsibilities under international agreements.

The repeal of the Endangerment Finding is poised to have significant implications, not only for the climate policy but also for the future of environmental regulation in the United States. As the world's largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, U.S. climate policy decisions directly influence global climate action efforts. This move could embolden other nations to relax their climate commitments, potentially derailing international efforts to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change, with far-reaching consequences for both the environment and public health worldwide.