More than three dozen states and local governments challenge the administration’s reversal of a key 2009 scientific determination that classifies greenhouse gases as a threat to public health. The lawsuit targets the recent repeal of the “endangerment finding,” which forms the basis for federal policies reducing emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other sources.
Lawsuit Details and Participants
The legal action, filed in the US Court of Appeals, contends that the repeal violates the Clean Air Act. Challengers include 23 states along with 17 cities, counties, and state agencies, such as New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Several environmental groups have lodged a parallel suit.
Reactions from Key Figures
New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, “The climate crisis is here, and it is already reshaping the way we live. Instead of helping Americans face our new reality, the administration has chosen denial, repealing critical protections that are foundational to the federal government’s response to climate change.”
President Donald Trump described the repeal as a major win against “radical” energy and climate policies, calling the original ruling “the legal foundation for the Green New Scam.” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin hailed it as “the single largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States.”
Former President Barack Obama criticized the move, posting on social media: “We’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change – all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.” The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Broader Context
The repeal continues a series of climate policy reversals. The president, who has labeled climate change a “hoax,” previously withdrew the US from the Paris climate accord during his first term and has done so again. Additional steps include rolling back vehicle fuel economy standards.
