

The Climate Backtracker identifies steps taken by the Trump-Vance administration to scale back or wholly eliminate federal climate mitigation and adaptation measures. The tracker is linked to our database of climate change regulations, related news, and two previous climate regulation trackers: the Climate Deregulation Tracker covering the first Trump administration and the Climate Reregulation Tracker covering the Biden administration. Please contact Olivia Guarna (ong2107@columbia.edu) with questions or corrections.
Pagination
- Date
- 2025-05-23
- Action
- DOE Designates Coal Used in Steelmaking as a Critical Material
- Explanation
- Agency Announcement
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
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.”
- Date
- 2025-05-20
- Action
- DOI Requests Information Identifying Regulations to Repeal or Modify
- Explanation
- Request for Information, Request for Public Comment
- Agency
- DOI
- Summary
Interior published a request for information seeking help identifying existing regulations that can be repealed or amended to reduce regulatory burdens pursuant to President Trump's directives in the Executive Order, Unleashing American Energy.
- Date
- 2025-05-20
- Action
- DOE Further Delays Amended Test Procedures for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
- Explanation
- Final Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
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.
- Date
- 2025-05-20
- Action
- DOE Withdraws Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers
- Explanation
- Final Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
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.”
- Date
- 2025-05-20
- Action
- DOE Withdraws Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters
- Explanation
- Final Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE withdrew its December 26, 2024 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters.
- Date
- 2025-05-20
- Action
- DOE Withdraws Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers
- Explanation
- Final Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE withdrew its January 21, 2025 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers.
- Date
- 2025-05-19
- Action
- DOT Submits Interpretive Rule to Reverse CAFE Standards
- Explanation
- Agency Announcement
- Agency
- DOT
- Summary
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.”
- Date
- 2025-05-19
- Action
- EPA Withdraws Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
- Explanation
- Final Rule
- Agency
- EPA
- Summary
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.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Issues Notice of Rescinded Guidance Documents
- Explanation
- Guidance, Notice
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
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.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Issues Final Rule Amending Procedures for Petroleum Acquisition
- Explanation
- Direct Final Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE issued a direct final rule to amend the procedures for acquisition of petroleum for the strategic petroleum reserve. The change will amend the regulations to require index-priced contracts.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Issues Final Rule Rescinding Information Collection Requirements under ESECA
- Explanation
- Direct Final Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE issued a direct final rule to rescind a portion of regulations containing requirements for the collection of information as required by the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Issues Final Rule Amending Procedures for Import/Export of Natural Gas
- Explanation
- Direct Final Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE issued a direct final rule to amend the administrative procedures regarding the import and export of natural gas. The rule will take effect on July 15, 2025.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Amending Regulations for International Electricity Transmission
- Explanation
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed amending its regulations which govern the authorization process for transmission of electricity to a foreign country.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Amending Test Procedures for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
- Explanation
- Proposed Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed amending its test procedure for commercial warm air furnaces, as adopted under EPCA. In pursuit of its current policy to “reduce regulatory burden wherever possible,” DOE reviewed its own January 17, 2025 decision to apply a new metric to these furnaces, and found that the January 17 determination had preceded from insufficient evidence.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Eliminating Efficiency Standards for Compact Residential Clothes Washers
- Explanation
- Proposed Rule
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed eliminating its efficiency standards for compact residential clothes washers. DOE asserted that, while it has authority to issue regulations for standard-size washers, it presently lacks authority to issue regulations for compact clothes washers.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Withdrawing Compressors as Covered Equipment Under EPCA
- Explanation
- Notice of Determination
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed withdrawing its prior determination that compressors qualify as covered equipment under EPCA. DOE asserted that this proposed withdrawal is consistent with a policy to classify industrial equipment as covered equipment “only if energy conservation standards will significantly increase the energy resources of the nation, without compromising the performance of industrial products.”
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Considers Revising Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Furnace Fans
- Explanation
- Request for Information
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE announced it would consider whether to revise its energy conservation standards for consumer furnace fans, as adopted under EPCA. DOE invited public input on whether the current standards “continue to be economically justified in light of DOE's new policy supporting energy and water abundance, allowing Americans to produce and consume as much energy and water as they desire.”
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Rescinding Regulations for Cellulosic Biofuels Production Incentives
- Explanation
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed rescinding its regulations for Production Incentives for Cellulosic Biofuels as obsolete.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Rescinding Renewable Energy Production Incentives Program Regulations
- Explanation
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed rescinding its regulations for the Renewable Energy Production Incentives program at the end of fiscal year 2026, in coordination with the program's statutory sunset date.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Withdrawing Fans and Blowers as Covered Products under EPCA
- Explanation
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed to withdraw its determination that fans and blowers are covered equipment under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Withdrawing Portable ACs as Covered Products under EPCA
- Explanation
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed to withdraw its determination that portable air conditioners are a covered consumer product under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Rescinding Energy Conservation Standards for Dehumidifiers
- Explanation
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed to rescind the amended energy conservation standards for dehumidifiers, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Rescinding Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves
- Explanation
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed to rescind the amended water use standards for commercial prerinse spray valves, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version.
- Date
- 2025-05-16
- Action
- DOE Proposes Rescinding Energy Conservation Standards for Faucets
- Explanation
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Agency
- DOE
- Summary
DOE proposed to rescind the amended water use standards for faucets, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version.
Date | Action | Explanation | Agency | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
2025-05-23
|
Agency Announcement
|
DOE
|
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.” |
|
2025-05-20
|
DOI Requests Information Identifying Regulations to Repeal or Modify
#/table_listing7/node/4011
edit
|
Request for Information,
Request for Public Comment
|
DOI
|
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. |
2025-05-20
|
DOE Further Delays Amended Test Procedures for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
#/table_listing7/node/3996
edit
|
Final Rule
|
DOE
|
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. |
2025-05-20
|
DOE Withdraws Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers
#/table_listing7/node/3987
edit
|
Final Rule
|
DOE
|
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.” |
2025-05-20
|
DOE Withdraws Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters
#/table_listing7/node/3984
edit
|
Final Rule
|
DOE
|
DOE withdrew its December 26, 2024 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. |
2025-05-20
|
Final Rule
|
DOE
|
DOE withdrew its January 21, 2025 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. |
|
2025-05-19
|
Agency Announcement
|
DOT
|
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.” |
|
2025-05-19
|
EPA Withdraws Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
#/table_listing7/node/3990
edit
|
Final Rule
|
EPA
|
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. |
2025-05-16
|
Guidance,
Notice
|
DOE
|
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. |
|
2025-05-16
|
Direct Final Rule
|
DOE
|
DOE issued a direct final rule to amend the procedures for acquisition of petroleum for the strategic petroleum reserve. The change will amend the regulations to require index-priced contracts. |
|
2025-05-16
|
DOE Issues Final Rule Rescinding Information Collection Requirements under ESECA
#/table_listing7/node/3948
edit
|
Direct Final Rule
|
DOE
|
DOE issued a direct final rule to rescind a portion of regulations containing requirements for the collection of information as required by the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Issues Final Rule Amending Procedures for Import/Export of Natural Gas
#/table_listing7/node/3945
edit
|
Direct Final Rule
|
DOE
|
DOE issued a direct final rule to amend the administrative procedures regarding the import and export of natural gas. The rule will take effect on July 15, 2025. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Amending Regulations for International Electricity Transmission
#/table_listing7/node/3942
edit
|
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed amending its regulations which govern the authorization process for transmission of electricity to a foreign country. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Amending Test Procedures for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
#/table_listing7/node/3939
edit
|
Proposed Rule
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed amending its test procedure for commercial warm air furnaces, as adopted under EPCA. In pursuit of its current policy to “reduce regulatory burden wherever possible,” DOE reviewed its own January 17, 2025 decision to apply a new metric to these furnaces, and found that the January 17 determination had preceded from insufficient evidence. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Eliminating Efficiency Standards for Compact Residential Clothes Washers
#/table_listing7/node/3936
edit
|
Proposed Rule
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed eliminating its efficiency standards for compact residential clothes washers. DOE asserted that, while it has authority to issue regulations for standard-size washers, it presently lacks authority to issue regulations for compact clothes washers. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Withdrawing Compressors as Covered Equipment Under EPCA
#/table_listing7/node/3933
edit
|
Notice of Determination
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed withdrawing its prior determination that compressors qualify as covered equipment under EPCA. DOE asserted that this proposed withdrawal is consistent with a policy to classify industrial equipment as covered equipment “only if energy conservation standards will significantly increase the energy resources of the nation, without compromising the performance of industrial products.” |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Considers Revising Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Furnace Fans
#/table_listing7/node/3930
edit
|
Request for Information
|
DOE
|
DOE announced it would consider whether to revise its energy conservation standards for consumer furnace fans, as adopted under EPCA. DOE invited public input on whether the current standards “continue to be economically justified in light of DOE's new policy supporting energy and water abundance, allowing Americans to produce and consume as much energy and water as they desire.” |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Rescinding Regulations for Cellulosic Biofuels Production Incentives
#/table_listing7/node/3927
edit
|
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed rescinding its regulations for Production Incentives for Cellulosic Biofuels as obsolete. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Rescinding Renewable Energy Production Incentives Program Regulations
#/table_listing7/node/3924
edit
|
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed rescinding its regulations for the Renewable Energy Production Incentives program at the end of fiscal year 2026, in coordination with the program's statutory sunset date. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Withdrawing Fans and Blowers as Covered Products under EPCA
#/table_listing7/node/3921
edit
|
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed to withdraw its determination that fans and blowers are covered equipment under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Withdrawing Portable ACs as Covered Products under EPCA
#/table_listing7/node/3918
edit
|
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed to withdraw its determination that portable air conditioners are a covered consumer product under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Rescinding Energy Conservation Standards for Dehumidifiers
#/table_listing7/node/3915
edit
|
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed to rescind the amended energy conservation standards for dehumidifiers, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version. |
2025-05-16
|
DOE Proposes Rescinding Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves
#/table_listing7/node/3912
edit
|
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed to rescind the amended water use standards for commercial prerinse spray valves, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version. |
2025-05-16
|
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
|
DOE
|
DOE proposed to rescind the amended water use standards for faucets, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version. |