EPA Proposes Repeal of 2009 Climate Finding, Paving Way for Rollback of Vehicle Emissions Rules

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on July 29 unveiled a proposal to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding, a legal foundation that has enabled federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles for over a decade. Announced by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the proposal seeks to eliminate the statutory basis for more than $1 trillion in regulatory costs stemming from emissions rules, including the former Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandate.

If finalized, the proposal would revoke all federal greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines. These include the first set of vehicle emission standards issued in 2010, as well as off-cycle credits such as the start-stop system, a technology that saves fuel by automatically turning off the engine when a vehicle stops and restarting it when the accelerator is pressed. EPA argues the change would restore consumer choice, reduce vehicle costs, and lower prices across the supply chain by eliminating constraints on truck-based freight delivery.

The agency cited updated scientific studies, including new findings from the Department of Energy’s 2025 Climate Work Group, that challenge the assumptions underpinning the original 2009 finding. EPA also pointed to recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings, such as West Virginia v. EPA and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which have narrowed agency authority and emphasized Congressional prerogative in major regulatory decisions.

The 2009 endangerment finding serves as the basis for EPA’s regulation of greenhouse gases. The original endangerment finding, initiated under the Obama Administration, allowed EPA to regulate carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases, despite vehicles emitting only some of them. Critics say this approach lacked specificity and imposed significant compliance burdens on automakers and consumers.

The proposal initiates a public comment period, with details to be posted in the Federal Register and on the EPA website. It follows a broader deregulatory agenda announced in March 2025 aligned with President Trump’s “Great American Comeback,” aimed at reducing regulatory burdens, restoring state authority, and reviving domestic manufacturing, particularly in the automotive sector.