Fact Check: "Trump's EPA is set to roll back pollution regulations."
What We Know
The claim that "Trump's EPA is set to roll back pollution regulations" is supported by several announcements made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Administrator Lee Zeldin. On March 12, 2025, the EPA announced a series of 31 actions aimed at deregulating various environmental protections, which the agency described as the "greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history" (EPA Launches Biggest Deregulatory Action in U.S. History). This includes reconsidering regulations that target emissions from power plants, particularly the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which limit mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants (Trump Allowed 47 Companies to Delay Compliance ...).
Additionally, reports indicate that the Trump administration plans to repeal carbon pollution standards established by the Biden administration, which would effectively eliminate limits on climate-warming pollution from fossil fuel power plants (Trump administration moves to repeal Biden power plant ...). This indicates a clear intent to roll back existing pollution regulations.
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from official announcements and credible news reports. The EPA's own communications detail specific actions aimed at deregulating environmental protections, which aligns with the claim that the Trump administration is rolling back pollution regulations. The announcement of reconsidering MATS and allowing companies to delay compliance with stricter standards further supports this assertion (Trump Allowed 47 Companies to Delay Compliance ...).
However, it is important to consider the potential biases in the sources. The EPA's announcement is an official statement from the agency, which may present the information in a favorable light to support the administration's agenda. On the other hand, news outlets like Reuters and NPR provide independent coverage of these actions, which can offer a more critical perspective on the implications of these rollbacks (Trump administration moves to repeal Biden power plant ..., Power plants face no climate pollution limits under Trump ...).
Moreover, the Associated Press reported that these rollbacks could weaken regulations that are projected to save thousands of lives and billions of dollars, highlighting the potential public health implications of the deregulation efforts (Trump EPA rollbacks would weaken rules projected to save ...). This underscores the significant impact these regulatory changes could have on environmental and public health standards.
Conclusion
The claim that "Trump's EPA is set to roll back pollution regulations" is True. The evidence from official EPA announcements and independent news reports clearly indicates that the Trump administration is actively pursuing a deregulatory agenda that includes rolling back significant pollution regulations. The actions outlined by the EPA and the implications discussed in various reports substantiate this claim.
