A bold move to restore regulatory sanity—is it worth it?

President Donald Trump took a decisive and bold step on January 20, 2025, by signing an executive order directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reexamine the legality and legality of the infamous 2009 finding of greenhouse gas hazards. Continued suitability. The directive marks a critical moment in the fight against excessive climate policies that have hindered U.S. industry and energy independence for more than a decade.

(f) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of EPA, in cooperation with the heads of any other appropriate agencies, shall submit joint recommendations to the Director of 0MB regarding the legality and continued applicability of the Administrator's findings, “Clean Air Act “Findings of Greenhouse Gas Hazards and Causes or Contributions Under Section 202(a),” final rule, 74 FR 66496 (December 15, 2009).

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/
(Section 6F)

For those unfamiliar with its importance, hazard discovery is key to the EPA's climate-related regulatory agency. The findings were released during the Obama administration, which declared greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide as pollutants that endanger people's health and well-being. The seemingly innocuous decision triggered a slew of restrictive regulations under the Clean Air Act, targeting everything from power plants to vehicle emissions.

But here’s the thing: The scientific, legal and policy foundations for dangerous discoveries have never been as solid as their defenders claim. By initiating this review, President Trump has taken the first step in unraveling the misguided rationales that have led to countless overzealous climate policies.

Harm discovery revisited: why it matters

The 2009 harm discovery served as a regulatory sledgehammer. Once greenhouse gases are recognized as pollutants under the Clean Air Act, the EPA gains broad authority to regulate industries across the board. The consequences were dire: Entire coal towns were hollowed out, energy costs soared, and U.S. manufacturers faced fierce competition from overseas producers unburdened by similar regulations.

President Trump has directed the EPA to revisit dangerous findings, signaling a long-overdue reckoning. For years, skeptics have pointed out glaring flaws in both the discovery process and the assumptions behind it. For example:

1. scientific uncertainty: Hazard discovery relies heavily on computer models predicting catastrophic global warming. However, these models have consistently failed to agree with observed temperature trends. By exaggerating the risks posed by greenhouse gases, the EPA has created a climate of fear and justified harsh regulations.
2. ultra vires of law: The Clean Air Act was never designed to address the global climate problem. Expanding the law to regulate carbon dioxide, a gas essential to life, is a legal strategy to bypass Congress and concentrate power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats.
3. economic harm: Regulations based on findings of hazards would be disastrous for American workers and families. High energy costs disproportionately hurt the poor and working class, while businesses face rising compliance costs that stifle innovation and job creation.

The Trump administration’s record on climate policy

The move to reexamine hazard findings is just the latest in a series of actions President Trump has taken to restore balance to U.S. environmental policy. During his first term, he withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord, a non-binding agreement that required the U.S. to make economic sacrifices while letting major polluters like China off the hook. His administration has also canceled the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era regulation aimed at dismantling the coal industry in favor of expensive and unreliable renewable energy.

Now, in President Trump’s second term, he has stepped up those efforts. Within days of returning to the office, he:

• Repeal Biden's electric vehicle mandate: The Biden administration’s goal of electrifying 50% of vehicles by 2030 is not only unrealistic, it’s also economically reckless. By reversing this mandate, President Trump ensures that American consumers, not bureaucrats, will determine the future of transportation.
• Declaring a national energy emergency: This declaration paves the way to expand domestic energy production, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and ensure affordable energy for all Americans.
• Review ordered into social cost of carbon: This dubious metric is used to justify over-regulation by exaggerating the supposed harm of carbon emissions. Recalibrating — or rejecting — this measure is a critical step toward rational decision-making.

Return to common sense

Critics of this latest executive order will undoubtedly claim that it represents a “war on science.” But let’s be clear: Real science thrives on skepticism and rigorous debate, not blindly following politically convenient narratives. By reopening the discussion about dangerous discoveries, President Trump is championing the principles of transparency and accountability.

Revisiting hazardous findings is also consistent with a broader vision of economic revitalization and energy independence. The United States has vast reserves of natural resources, and harnessing these assets is critical to national security and economic growth. Restrictive climate policies often treat these resources as liabilities rather than assets, hampering the United States’ ability to compete on the global stage.

The road ahead

The EPA has 30 days to submit a report to the White House. While the specific details of this report remain to be seen, the very act of questioning a dangerous finding is cause for celebration. It sends a clear message: The era of unchecked regulatory excess is over.

If the dangerous finding is ultimately overturned, it could mark the beginning of a new chapter in U.S. energy policy—one based on realism, economic prosperity, and scientific integrity. An industry battered by years of over-regulation finally has a chance to recover, innovate and thrive.

President Trump’s actions remind us that leadership requires courage—the courage to question orthodoxy, challenge vested interests, and put the needs of the American people first. With the 2009 harm discovery, he is doing just that. Let’s hope this bold move inspires a much-needed change of direction in environmental policy in the coming years.

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