Washington, D.C. – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin will announce today that the agency will seek to no longer regulate greenhouse gas pollution under a 2009 endangerment finding. Since then, administrations have used the finding to justify efforts to control emissions from the fossil fuel industry under the Clean Air Act based on the clear danger these emissions pose to climate stability and human health. The Trump administration is now claiming that the EPA does not legally have this authority.

In response, Jim Walsh, policy director at Food & Water Watch, issued the following statement:

“Once again, Lee Zeldin and the Trump administration are making it clear they have no care or concern for the health and wellbeing of the American people or future generations. Zeldin and Trump are concerned only with maximizing short-term profits for polluting corporations and the CEOs funneling millions of dollars to their campaign coffers. 

“Lee Zeldin’s assertion that the EPA shouldn’t address greenhouse gas emissions is like a fire chief claiming that they shouldn’t fight fires. It is as malicious as it is absurd. Our energy and commitment to fighting Zeldin and his pro-polluter agenda have only been amplified by this latest outrage from the Trump administration.”