Climate Backtracker

EPA proposed Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) that would include regulatory changes to the RFS program, such as reducing the number of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) generated for renewable fuel imported or produced from foreign feedstocks, as well as removing renewable electricity as a qualifying renewable fuel under the program.

EPA proposed to repeal amendments to the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). This action would release all covered facilities from the more stringent filterable particulate matter (PM) emission standard for coal-fired EGUs, the tighter mercury standard for lignite-fired EGUs, and the requirement to use PM Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS).

EPA proposed to repeal the 2015 emissions standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants issued during the Obama Administration, and the 2024 rule for new and existing fossil fuel-fired power plants issued during the Biden Administration. 

NHTSA published an interpretive rule claiming that the Biden Administration ignored statutory requirements in establishing CAFE standards, providing NHTSA with the authority to revise these standards. NHTSA also claimed related authority to revise the commercial medium- and heavy-duty on-highway vehicle and work truck fuel efficiency improvement program.

CEQ launched a new tool to help parties identify all agencies' categorical exclusions from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Citing President Trump’s executive order on “Unleashing American Energy,” PHMSA solicited feedback on identifying regulatory provisions of its Pipeline Safety Regulations “that could impose an undue burden on identification, development, and use of domestic energy resources, or that are examples of government inefficiency insofar as they impose outsized compliance burdens for comparatively small safety benefits or limit technological innovation.”

DOI published a proposed rule to rescind its final rule, “Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska,” issued on May 7, 2024.

In announcing nearly $5.5 billion in available funding for bridge infrastructure, DOT noted that it had removed climate-change and environmental-justice requirements.

CEQ withdrew its guidance, "National Environmental Policy Act Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change," which it previously issued in January 2023.

President Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to take various steps to reform federal scientific research policies, including by re-implementing the scientific integrity policies from the first Trump administration.

President Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Energy to take several steps to promote the production and operation of nuclear energy generation.

President Trump issued an executive order to reform the National Laboratories' process for reactor testing to spur nuclear energy generation. Among other changes, the Order directs the Department of Energy to streamline environmental review under NEPA and incorporate DOGE into the reform process.

President Trump issued an executive order mandating the reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an independent regulatory body, in coordination with the Commission's "DOGE Team."

President Trump issued an executive order directing the Departments of Defense and Energy to advance the use of nuclear energy generation for military and national security purposes, and to rely on categorical NEPA exclusions when doing so.

DOE announced the designation of coal used in steel production as a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020, in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry.”

DOI announced that it has designated the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement as the lead agency to ovesee the decommissioning of oil and gas rigs in the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.

Interior published a request for information seeking help identifying existing regulations that can be repealed or amended to reduce regulatory burdens pursuant to President Trump's directives in the Executive Order, Unleashing American Energy.

DOE further delayed implementation of its amended test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps, as established in its January 7, 2025 final rule.

DOE withdrew its December 23, 2024 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers, referred to collectively as “walk-ins.”

DOE withdrew its December 26, 2024 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters.

DOE withdrew its January 21, 2025 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers.

DOT announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had recently submitted an interpretive rule, “Resetting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Program (CAFE),” to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for review. DOT described this action as “a key step towards reversing the prior administration’s illegal interpretation of CAFE standards.” 

EPA withdrew its November 18, 2024 rule on implementing and facilitating compliance with the Waste Emissions Charge in the Clean Air Act's Methane Emissions Reduction Program.

DOE published a notice that it has rescinded several guidance documents, including the agency's Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan, Sustainability Plan, low carbon electricity plans, and more.