Several Democrats framed the Trump administration’s repeal of a cornerstone climate regulation on Thursday as a move that will allow pollution to sweep the nation.
The Trump Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined Thursday that the Obama-era regulation known as the Endangerment Finding extended beyond congressional authority. President Donald Trump announced that repealing the finding amounted to the “largest deregulatory action in American history,” and noted that the action is expected to save Americans on new vehicle costs and other related
Former President Barack Obama said on Thursday in response that without the EPA holding the ability to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, “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.”
Several more Democrats that have either supported or enacted harsh climate regulations allowed by the finding aired their grievances on social media following the announcement, including Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, former Vice President Al Gore, Democratic Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, former Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, among others.
Newsom declared that California would soon “fight this lawless action in court.”
Donald Trump’s administration is falsely claiming that greenhouse gases are not a threat to public health — breaking the law to once again grovel to the oil industry.
California will fight this lawless action in court. https://t.co/eBl3zoys0Y
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) February 12, 2026
Notably, Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Thursday that the finding was used to allow a de facto national electric vehicle (EV) mandate, led by California. After congress passed multiple resolutions in 2025, Trump officially dismantled the de facto EV mandate on June 12.
Make Pollution Great Again https://t.co/ml1F1hU8cG
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 12, 2026
The Trump EPA has fully abandoned its duty to protect the American people from greenhouse gas pollution and climate change.
The only winners today are Trump’s fossil fuel megadonors.https://t.co/XSXBliNHfh
— Senate EPW Democrats (@EPWCmte) February 12, 2026
The Trump Administration is once again trying to deny science and reality – this time, by throwing out the well-established research connecting the climate crisis to public health.
While the Trump Administration can try to ignore the climate crisis, it’s painfully clear that the…
— Al Gore (@algore) February 12, 2026
Gore has a history of citing climate change proclamations that were later shown to be false, Fox News notes. The former vice president became a prominent public voice on the issue, especially after his failed 2000 presidential run and the release of the influential 2006 documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” which featured Gore’s views on climate change.
This shameful abdication—an economic, moral, and political failure—will harm Americans’ health, homes, and economic well-being.
It ignores scientific fact and common-sense observations to serve big political donors. https://t.co/xEpUJk1Haf
— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) February 12, 2026
The Trump EPA has abandoned its duty to protect the American people from greenhouse gas pollution and climate change devastation.
As climate change drives up insurance premiums, grocery prices, energy costs, and health care spending, American families will be left holding the… pic.twitter.com/971mA54CGh
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 12, 2026
This is another win for Big Oil and other big polluters at the expense of everyone else.
Instead of giving polluters a free ride, we should pass my Polluters Pay bill to make them — not all of us — pay the bill for the huge amount of damage they’ve caused.… pic.twitter.com/9gOW6eFObC
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) February 13, 2026
This is another win for Big Oil and other big polluters at the expense of everyone else.The president is overruling science to eliminate measures that protect us from pollution and environmental damage, mainly to benefit multinational corporations that have thrown money at his campaign, ballroom, and family.
It’s simple corruption, and it will cost American lives… pic.twitter.com/fzY4y8Nz7Z
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 12, 2026
Catastrophic wildfires, flooding, and hurricanes will not pause for politics, and the @EPA has again abandoned its mission to protect the environment.
Trump has given polluters a free pass at the expense of the health and welfare of the American people.
This must be stopped… https://t.co/uni7irsW9n
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) February 12, 2026
The Trump EPA estimated that repealing the finding would save American taxpayers over $1 trillion dollars. Several energy policy experts and agency insiders previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation the finding was politicized, relied on “cherry-picked data” and that its elimination will benefit consumer choice.
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