On December 12, local time, President Donald Trump's administration announced the official termination of the legal foundation for greenhouse gas emissions regulations known as the 'endangerment finding.' This decision overturns a conclusion from the Obama administration in 2009 that categorized greenhouse gases as a threat to public health and welfare, leading to anticipated ramifications on U.S. environmental policy and global climate crisis responses. During the announcement at the White House with EPA Administrator Regan Zeldin, Trump characterized the policy as a 'disastrous policy of the Obama era' that severely impacted the American auto industry and caused significant price increases for consumers.

The primary focus of this regulatory rollback is on easing regulations related to the automotive industry. Trump criticized the endangerment finding as the legal basis for the 'Green New Scam,' asserting that its elimination would relieve the pressure for mandatory purchases of electric vehicles and lift sanctions on traditional combustion engine cars. Zeldin highlighted that this reform is the largest single regulatory rollback in American history. Furthermore, both the president and the EPA administrator emphasized that certain features aimed at reducing emissions, such as the automatic shut-off function for idling vehicles, would no longer be mandatory, with Trump derogatorily referring to it as the 'Obama Switch.'

The White House claims that this regulatory easing will reduce the average price of new cars by approximately $2,400 to $3,000 and save over $13 trillion in total regulatory costs. However, existing regulations on other air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, lead, and nitrogen oxides will remain in place, showing a selective approach in addressing environmental concerns. The implications of this decision are significant, as it not only undermines federal climate regulations but may also influence international climate agreements, potentially jeopardizing collective action against climate change.