Today, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin recommended that the White House strike down the Endangerment Finding, an essential legal backbone to how we cut climate pollution from industrial sources. This is shameful—and dangerous.
Administrator Zeldin is contaminating EPA with the virulent strain of climate denial that has seized hold of many of the Trump administration’s cabinet members. We must speak out against this horrific decision that will hurt children.
Tell Administrator Zeldin: Cutting Climate Pollution Is One of EPA’s Most Important Jobs
Over 15 years ago, EPA determined that greenhouse gases threaten public health. EPA’s action respected the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court. It respected the bedrock science and respected what we all know to be true: Families across the country are experiencing the extreme weather fueled by climate emissions.
With every new supercharged wildfire, hurricane, flood, and heat wave, the danger takes on a terrifying intimacy: think of the summers that have become too hot for children to play outside, of the lifetime trauma of losing a home in a flood or fire.
Administrator Zeldin’s recommendation to strike down the Endangerment Finding will only bolster the billions of dollars of profit being made by the oil and gas industry—while ransacking our children’s safety.
On numerous occasions, Zeldin has also announced his desire, steered by OMB Administrator Vought and President Trump, to roll back protections from pollution from cars, trucks, power plants, and other industrial sources. These pollutants become more toxic in a hotter climate.
Zeldin has made clear that his EPA will focus on “energy dominance,” distorting EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. If Zeldin succeeds in dragging EPA off course, he is condemning us—and the future of his own children—to longer and more scorching heat waves, extreme storms, and endless wildfire seasons. This makes everything in our lives more expensive: we already see the soaring costs of food, shelter, medicine, hospital bills, health insurance, home insurance, and construction.
Administrator Zeldin must not succeed in his perilous quest to repeal EPA’s Endangerment Finding. In his nomination hearings, Zeldin promised to follow the science, respect the science. He must be true to that pledge and keep EPA on course, reining in climate and air pollution. To do otherwise is cynical and shameful, a dishonor that would echo down the ages.
Tell Administrator Zeldin: Cutting Climate Pollution Is One of EPA’s Most Important Jobs