U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin published an op-ed in the Washington Reporter detailing what he described as a historic year of deregulation at the agency. Zeldin said on March 12, EPA announced 31 actions that he called the largest day of deregulation in U.S. history.
According to Zeldin, "One year ago, at the Trump EPA, we announced 31 historic actions in the largest ever day of deregulation, to unleash the potential of the American economy, advance President Donald Trump’s Day One executive orders, and Power the Great American Comeback. That meant the reconsideration of many suffocating rules that were restricting many sectors of our economy and costing Americans trillions of dollars — raising the cost of living in every aspect of life. One year later, we have made significant strides to undo the failures of prior administrations and bring down costs for American families."
Zeldin highlighted several key actions taken by EPA over the past year. He said among these was repealing the 2009 Obama-era Endangerment Finding and all vehicle regulations that relied on it. "Our repeal of the Endangerment Finding, all subsequent greenhouse gas emissions standards on light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, and all off-cycle credits like the one that led to that annoying start/stop feature in vehicles was the culmination of the single largest deregulatory action in American history. This decision alone will save over one trillion dollars in costs, along with making new vehicles $2,400 cheaper, and put an end to 16 years of consumer choice restrictions for Americans," Zeldin said.
He also referenced other regulatory changes such as repealing a Biden administration rule related to mercury and air toxics standards for coal plants while keeping earlier standards intact; approving state plans for North Dakota and Wyoming regarding coal combustion residuals; issuing guidance on prescribed burns; ending environmental justice and diversity initiatives at EPA; proposing changes to interstate air pollution rules; extending deadlines for oil and gas industry compliance; reviewing comments on various energy-related proposals; and working toward a new definition for Waters of the United States.
"President Trump heard the American people loud and clear, and we will continue to deliver results," Zeldin said. "By fulfilling the actions we set in motion on March 12, 2025, we continue working each and every day to deliver an EPA that works to empower the American people while protecting our nation’s air, land, and water," according to the official roster page.
