EDITORIAL: The EPA Under Trump: When Deregulation Becomes a Weapon of Mass Destruction

The Surge in Emissions

Without the Endangerment Finding, automakers will be able to sell more polluting vehicles. Coal-fired power plants will be able to emit more CO2. Refineries will be able to release more toxic substances. The result: a massive increase in pollution.

The consequences will be immediate: more asthma, more cancers, and more premature deaths. The health costs will far outweigh the promised savings.

The Real Economic Cost

Trump promises $1.3 trillion in savings. But who will pay the cost of climate disasters? Who will pay the medical bills for children poisoned by polluted air? These savings are an illusion.

When we count savings in dollars but not the lives lost, we’re doing accounting, not politics.

The American Petroleum Institute Takes the Lead

The primary beneficiary of this decision is the oil industry. The American Petroleum Institute, the most powerful lobby in Washington, immediately welcomed the end of “EV mandates”—the standards that were pushing for electric vehicles. Automakers will be able to continue selling gas-guzzling cars without worrying about emissions.

And the oil companies? They’ll be able to extract, burn, and pollute without limit. A polluter’s dream, a citizen’s nightmare.

The losers: ordinary Americans

The losers are the families breathing increasingly toxic air. They are the farmers whose crops are destroyed by droughts. They are the coastal residents threatened by rising sea levels. They are all those who cannot afford to protect themselves.

When a government deliberately chooses to sacrifice the health of its citizens to please a handful of billionaires, it loses all legitimacy.

Europe and China Are Taking the Lead

While the United States is falling behind, Europe and China are accelerating their energy transition. America is no longer a leader, but an obstacle.

The message sent to the world is clear: the United States no longer believes in science or in the future.

The Paris Agreement: A Distant Memory

Trump has already withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement. Now, he is burying any chance of meeting climate commitments. America is no longer a partner, but a problem.

How can we convince other countries to take action when the world’s biggest historical polluter couldn’t care less about the consequences?

Legal challenges are mounting

As soon as the announcement was made, NGOs and states vowed to take the EPA to court. The California Air Resources Board, the American Lung Association, and the Natural Resources Defense Council—all have vowed to fight. The battle has only just begun.

But the legal proceedings will take years. In the meantime, the standards are being repealed, emissions will skyrocket, and the climate will continue to deteriorate.

States are resisting

Some states, such as California, promise to maintain their own standards. But without federal support, their room to maneuver is limited. California cannot save America on its own.

If the courts don’t stop this madness, who will? Congress? With a Republican majority loyal to Trump, let’s not kid ourselves.

A symbol of the absurdity of the decision

Among the measures that have been scrapped is the elimination of subsidies for “start-stop” systems—devices that shut off the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill to save fuel. Too restrictive, too expensive, according to Zeldin. Yet these systems reduce emissions and fuel consumption. But it doesn’t matter: if it bothers drivers, we’ll do away with it.

That’s the whole philosophy behind this deregulation: immediate comfort takes precedence over everything else.

The Lack of Vision

Trump and Zeldin have no alternatives to offer. No clean energy policies, no plans for green jobs. Just a step backward, toward a world where oil reigned supreme. A world that no longer exists.

When you don’t have a solution, you deny the problem. That’s Trump’s strategy: close your eyes and hope that the climate will close its eyes, too.

The Domino Effect

This decision doesn’t just affect the United States. If the U.S. gives up on regulating its emissions, other countries could follow suit. The domino effect is already underway.

And then there’s the psychological effect: if even the United States, the world’s leading power, gives up, why would the others continue to fight?

The Human Cost

Behind the numbers are lives—lives lost to pollution, lives shattered by climate disasters. How many deaths will it take for Trump to understand? Probably never enough.

One day, our children will ask us, “You knew, and you did nothing.” What will we tell them?

The Turning Point

How did we get here? How can a government, in full knowledge of the facts, undermine environmental protections in the name of the economy? At what point did we accept that money comes before life?

It’s a matter of values. And today, America’s values are clear: profit above all else.

The Role of the Media

Pro-Trump news channels are celebrating this decision as a victory. Others are trying to sound the alarm. But amid the media noise, the truth is getting lost.

When the media becomes a mouthpiece for propaganda, democracy is in danger. And with it, the planet.

Young People Are Rising Up

All across the country, young people are protesting. They know that their future is at stake. They won’t stay silent.

And then there are the companies that, despite everything, continue to invest in green initiatives. Because they know that’s where the future lies.

The 2028 Elections

In 2028, Americans will have a choice: continue down this path, or turn the page. Will climate be a decisive issue? It all depends on us.

Change won’t come from politicians. It will come from citizens. It’s up to us to make our voices heard.

Trump’s Legacy

One day, this decision will be remembered as a turning point—and not for the better. History will judge Trump not by his tweets, but by his actions. And this one is unforgivable.

But history has not yet been written. We can still take action. We can still fight. We must.

When an administration deliberately chooses to sacrifice the planet for selfish interests, it loses all moral legitimacy. It’s up to us to take that away from it.

Signed, Maxime Marquette

Editorial Stance

This editorial expresses a strong and committed stance in response to a political decision with dramatic consequences for the environment and public health. It does not claim to be neutral, but rather to speak the truth: the truth of a world where money takes precedence over life, and where the powerful decide the fate of everyone.

Methodology and Sources

Analysis based on official statements from the EPA, reactions from NGOs, scientists, and the media, as well as available climate data.

Nature of the Analysis

Editorial; a reasoned position statement on a hot-button current issue, combining verified facts with a call to action.