On July 17, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation, entitled "Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Iron Ore Processing Security," to relieve certain stationary sources related to iron ore processing from compliance with EPA's national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for two years. The emission standards were issued by EPA in March 2024.
The hazardous air pollutant emission standards were promulgated to reduce toxic mercury pollution. President Trump's proclamation cites the United States' reliance on foreign taconite iron ore processing (used to make steel) as justification for this exemption.