Trump Administration Plans to Revoke 2009 Climate Endangerment Finding

The planned revocation of the 2009 endangerment finding marks a proposed shift in U.S. climate policy, with the administration seeking to change the regulatory framework for greenhouse gas emissions.

The endangerment finding, issued in 2009 during the Obama administration, classified greenhouse gases as threats to public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act. This determination has served as the foundation for federal climate regulations, including emission standards for vehicles and power plants.

On February 10, 2026, the Trump administration is expected to finalize a rule rescinding this determination. A White House official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the plan ahead of an official announcement. The proposal to revoke the endangerment finding was first introduced in July 2025 as part of a broader deregulatory initiative.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the action would represent the most significant deregulatory move in U.S. history, with the administration aiming to advance energy dominance and reduce regulatory costs. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has also described the repeal as the largest deregulatory action undertaken in the country.

What the numbers show

• The 2009 endangerment finding was issued during the Obama administration
• The Supreme Court in 2007 affirmed greenhouse gases as air pollutants
• Legal challenges to the finding were rejected by courts, including in 2023

The legal foundation for the endangerment finding was established by the 2007 Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, which recognized greenhouse gases as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Since its issuance, the endangerment finding has supported regulations on emissions from motor vehicles, power plants, and other major sources.

Efforts to revoke the endangerment finding are part of a wider strategy by the administration to promote fossil fuel use and reduce regulatory requirements for industry. In March 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to reconsider the endangerment finding as part of a broader rollback of environmental regulations.

The National Academy of Sciences stated in September 2025 that scientific evidence supporting the 2009 endangerment finding is beyond scientific dispute and has strengthened over time. Environmental groups and legal experts have signaled their intent to challenge any repeal of the finding in court.

Court decisions have consistently upheld the endangerment finding, with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejecting legal challenges as recently as 2023. The regulatory framework established by the finding continues to underpin most federal climate-related rules.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.