REGULATIONS & DEREGULATIONS
The current Trump administration began its governance on 1/31/2025 with President Trump signing an Executive Order to eliminate 10 regulations for each new regulation issued. The roots of Mr. Trump’s full-throttle approach this year can be traced to the early months of his first term, when he started trying to rip up President Barack Obama’s largest climate change regulation, a rule to cut planet-warming tailpipe pollution by forcing automakers to sell more electric vehicles. Biden restored that rule.
For his second term, Mr. Trump wanted deregulation to happen fast, in order to see the impacts and bask in the credit while he was still in the White House and he wanted the rollbacks to be permanent. The Environmental Protection Agency announced in early March, 2025 that it would begin the process of dismantling dozens of Biden-era rules touching issues as varied as electric vehicles, coal plants and clean water.In a flurry of news releases, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency woul roll back some of President Joe Biden’s most consequential climate and environmental regulations.
He specifically cited rules aimed at speeding the nation’s shift to electric vehicles, slashing planet-warming emissions from power plants and safeguarding waterways from harmful pollution. A White House directive, early in April, 2025, that many rules can simply be repealed without a “notice and comment” period would circumvent a process long required by the 1946 Administrative Procedure Act — and would probably trigger court challenges, legal experts said.
THE LIST BELOW HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S REGULATIONS AND DEREGULATIONS
04/08/25
My Administration is committed to unleashing American energy, especially through the removal of all illegitimate impediments to the identification, development, siting, production, investment in, or use of domestic energy resources — particularly oil, natural gas,…
By Zachary Fayne and others
04/09/25
On April 8, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order (EO) entitled “Protecting American Energy From State Overreach.” The goal of the new, energy-focused EO is to remove what the Trump administration characterizes as “illegitimate…
01/20/25
Purpose. Over the last 4 years, the United States has been inundated with record levels of migration, including through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Cities and small towns alike, from Charleroi, Pennsylvania, and Springfield,…
06/06/25
This executive order suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) until it is determined that the further entry of refugees aligns with the interests of the U.S. The order aims to strengthen the country's capabilities to handle…
02/14/25
America is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and is a leader in energy technologies and innovation that are critical to the economic prosperity and national security of the American people, as well as…
By Heather Richards
02/14/25
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday establishing a White House energy council to promote the nation’s energy industries amid already record-high oil and natural gas production.
01/20/25
Over the past 4 years, the Biden Administration’s destructive policies inflicted an historic inflation crisis on the American people. The Biden Administration not only exploded Government spending, artificially and unsustainably stimulating demand, but it simultaneously…
05/09/25
Water conservation requirements for faucets, showers, bathtubs, and toilets — promulgated by the Department of Energy pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-486) — make bathroom appliances more expensive and less…
By Ethan Howland
04/10/25
President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to add provisions to their energy-related regulations so they would expire within five years...
By Kate Yoder
04/23/25
Efficiency standards for home appliances were once the conversational equivalent of beige — neutral, but aggressively uninteresting. But as political polarization has deepened, dishwashers, laundry machines, showerheads, and other household staples have begun to take…
04/09/25
Section 1. Purpose. In our country, laws are supposed to provide the certainty and order necessary to foster liberty and innovation. Instead, our vast regulatory structure often serves to constrict ordered liberty, not promote it.…
By Alex Guillén
04/09/25
President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening issued an executive order requiring agencies that regulate energy and the environment to add “sunset” dates to their regulations after which the rules will effectively expire.
04/08/25
SUPPORTING OUR NATION’S COAL INDUSTRY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation granting two-years of relief from a stringent Biden-era environmental rule to certain coal-fired power plants, safeguarding the Nation’s energy grid and security,…
By Maxine Joselow
03/12/25
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it will begin the process of dismantling dozens of Biden-era rules touching issues as varied as electric vehicles, coal plants and clean water. In a flurry of news…
03/28/25
When I won the presidential election on November 5th by historic margins, it was a resounding victory not just for secure borders and a strong economy, not just for tackling inflation and keeping men out…
By VOA News
02/10/25
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Monday declaring that it is “the policy of the United States to end the use of paper straws.” Former President Joe Biden’s administration, in an attempt to phase…
01/20/25
The United States must grow its economy and maintain jobs for its citizens while playing a leadership role in global efforts to protect the environment. Over decades, with the help of sensible policies that do…
06/06/25
This executive order directs the U.S. to formally withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and any related agreements or pacts under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It outlines steps to rescind…
01/20/25
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Purpose and Policy. The previous administration has…
01/20/25
President Trump will take bold action to secure our border and protect American communities. This includes ending Biden’s catch-and-release policies, reinstating Remain in Mexico, building the wall, ending asylum for illegal border crossers, cracking down…
THE LIST BELOW HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE MANY REGULATIONS ENACTED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
05/14/24
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending requirements that apply to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to ensure that reporting is based on empirical data, accurately…
10/07/24
On December 2, 2023, EPA issued final new source performance standards and emissions guidelines for new and existing oil and natural gas facilities. The D.C. Circuit litigation for these standards is ongoing and on Oct.…
05/13/24
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission amends its regulations governing applications for permits to site electric transmission facilities under section 216 of the Federal Power Act, as amended by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of…
05/13/24
FERC today unanimously approved a rule outlining how it plans to implement its limited authority over siting electricity transmission lines, as amended by Congress in 2021. Today’s new rule, Order No. 1977, updates the process…
05/13/24
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) revises the pro forma Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) to remedy deficiencies in the Commission’s existing regional and local transmission planning and cost allocation requirements. In this final rule,…
05/13/24
FERC acted today to ensure the transmission grid can meet the nation’s growing demand for reliable electricity with a new rule that outlines how to plan and pay for facilities that regions of the country…
05/13/24
On May 13, 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a final rule to improve regional electric transmission planning and cost allocation. This explainer provides an overview of the final rule, titled Order No.…
05/09/24
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing multiple actions under section 111 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) addressing greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions from fossil fuel fired electric generating units (EGUs). First, the EPA is finalizing…
10/16/24
The Supreme Court denied petitioners’ application for a stay of EPA’s rule for new gas-fired and existing coal-fired power plants. Justice Kavanaugh, joined by Justice Gorsuch, wrote a statement noting that in his view, the…
04/25/24
Today, April 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a suite of final rules to reduce pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants in order to protect all communities from pollution and improve public health without…
05/09/24
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is finalizing a Clean Water Act regulation to revise the technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the steam electric power generating point source category applicable…
04/25/24
Today, April 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a suite of final rules to reduce pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants in order to protect all communities from pollution and improve public health without…
05/08/24
On April 17, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) promulgated national minimum criteria for existing and new coal combustion residuals (CCR) landfills and existing and new CCR surface impoundments. On August 21,…
04/01/24
The United States Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule that requires the safe management of coal ash that is placed in areas that were unregulated at the federal level until now. This includes inactive power…
04/25/24
On April 25, 2024, EPA issued final revisions to strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule for existing coal-fired power plants. EPA is finalizing more stringent emissions standards and additional, cost-reasonable monitoring and control…
04/25/24
On April 25, 2024 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced final requirements to strengthen and update the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs), commonly…
05/07/24
On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) signed final revisions to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs), also…
04/25/24
The Biden administration today announced important new technology updates to the Environmental Protection Agency's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants that burn coal and oil, strengthening the limit on toxic particulate matter…
04/25/24
Today, April 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a suite of final rules to reduce pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants in order to protect all communities from pollution and improve public health without…
06/13/24
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is correcting a final rule published in the Federal Register of April 18, 2024, which will be effective June 17, 2024. The final rule established new emission standards for light-duty…
03/20/24
Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is establishing new, more protective emissions standards for criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) for light-duty vehicles and Class 2b and 3 (‘‘medium-duty’’) vehicles that…
02/12/23
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing new, more protective emissions standards to reduce harmful air pollutants from light-duty and medium-duty vehicles (also known as Class 2b and 3 vehicles), starting with model year…
12/02/23
EPA has issued a final rule that will sharply reduce emissions of methane and other harmful air pollution from oil and natural gas operations — including, for the first time, from existing sources nationwide. The…
DEREGULATIONS: 2019 - 2024
By Dino Grandoni 08/18/21
EPA to ban chlorpyrifos, linked to neurological damage in young children, on crops such as grapes, broccoli and strawberries – reversing a Trump public health decision...
08/10/21
The Energy Department proposed a rule making lightbulbs more efficient, reversing a Trump policy. The proposal would affect bulbs used in 2 billion sockets in the U.S...
THE LIST BELOW HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE MANY REGULATIONS ENACTED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
11/04/20
Today we begin the formal process of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. The U.S. is proud of our record as a world leader in reducing all emissions, fostering resilience, growing our economy, and ensuring energy…
By Rebecca Hersher
11/04/20
The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations that the U.S. is withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. The withdrawal will be complete this time next year, after a one-year waiting period has elapsed.
By Ciara Nugent
11/04/20
The U.S.—the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases—formally withdrew from the U.N.’s 2015 Paris climate change agreement on Nov. 4.
By Lisa Friedman
11/04/19
The Trump administration formally notified the United Nations on Monday that it would withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change, leaving global climate diplomats to plot a way forward without the…
By Hai-Bin Zhang, Han-Cheng Dai
09/27/17
Applying qualitative and quantitative methods, this article explains the driving forces behind U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, assesses the impacts of this withdrawal on the compliance prospects of the…
03/31/20
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalize updated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks and establish new standards,…
By Coral Davenport
05/30/20
The Trump administration is expected on Tuesday to announce its final rule to rollback Obama-era automobile fuel efficiency standards, relaxing efforts to limit climate-warming tailpipe pollution and virtually undoing the government’s biggest effort to combat…
By David Shepardson 6 MIN READ
03/31/17
President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday completed a rollback of U.S. vehicle emissions standards adopted under his predecessor Barack Obama and will require 1.5% annual increases in efficiency through 2026 - far weaker than the…
09/17/20
President Trump has made dismantling environmental regulations a priority during his time in office. While some of these moves remain mired in legal uncertainty, the Trump administration has successfully unraveled the majority of Obama-era climate…
02/14/20
The Environmental Protection Network was launched in January 2017 to harness the expertise of former EPA career staff and confirmation-level appointees from multiple administrations to provide an informed and rigorous defense against efforts to undermine…
01/27/20
This is a database of regulations and other efforts undertaken by federal agencies to address the causes and impacts of climate change. Regulations administered by EPA are organized by topic; other materials are organized by their…
01/27/20
Laws written by Congress provide the authority for EPA to write regulations. Regulations explain the technical, operational, and legal details necessary to implement laws.
05/03/19
The Trump administration has promised vast changes to U.S. science and environmental policy—and we’re tracking them here as they happen.
08/02/19
Over four years in office, the Trump administration has dismantled major climate policies and rolled back many more rules governing clean air, water, wildlife and toxic chemicals.
