EPA chief tells climate skeptics to celebrate after rolling back key climate rule

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin took the stage Wednesday at a conference in Chicago hosted by the Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank known for promoting climate change skepticism. In his keynote speech, Zeldin celebrated the Trump administration's recent decision to repeal the so-called 'endangerment finding'-a scientific determination first established in 2009 that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. That finding has long served as the legal backbone for federal climate regulations.

Zeldin told the audience to 'celebrate vindication,' framing the repeal as a win for economic freedom and regulatory rollback. 'The science was never settled,' he said, echoing long-standing talking points from climate skeptics. 'We're correcting a bureaucratic overreach that burdened American workers and industries for more than a decade.'

The endangerment finding's repeal clears the way for the administration to dismantle or weaken a wide range of environmental rules, including emissions standards for vehicles and power plants. Environmental advocates warn this could stall or reverse progress on cutting carbon emissions, potentially undermining U.S. commitments in global climate talks.

The Heartland Institute has a history of challenging climate science, once comparing scientists who warn about global warming to the Unabomber in an ad campaign. Past speakers at its conferences have included politicians and scientists who dispute human-caused climate change. Zeldin's appearance marks a rare instance of a sitting EPA administrator headlining such an event.

Reaction was swift. Climate scientists and environmental groups called the move dangerous and politically motivated. The Union of Concerned Scientists said the repeal 'ignores decades of peer-reviewed research.' Meanwhile, some industry leaders welcomed the shift, saying it reduces uncertainty for energy and manufacturing sectors under new federal leadership.

The timing stands out. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the administration appears to be rallying its base around deregulation and skepticism of climate policy. The speech also aligns with broader efforts to reshape federal science policy, including changes at NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Still, legal challenges are expected. Previous attempts to alter or erase the endangerment finding have been struck down in court. Environmental attorneys say the current repeal may face similar hurdles, especially if judges find it contradicts clear scientific consensus or violates the Clean Air Act.