The Trump administration is moving forward with an extensive rollback of environmental rules, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcing plans to take 31 major deregulatory actions. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the initiative “the largest deregulatory announcement in US history.”

“EPA will be reconsidering many suffocating rules that restrict nearly every sector of our economy and cost Americans trillions of dollars,” Zeldin said in a video posted to X.

🚨BREAKING: @EPA is initiating 31 historic actions to Power the Great American Comeback in the greatest day of deregulation in American history!
 
Our actions will unleash energy dominance, lower costs for Americans, strengthen the U.S. auto industry, and protect our environment. pic.twitter.com/7B3fh5qBKY

— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) March 12, 2025

In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Zeldin declared that these regulatory cuts mark the “death of the Green New Scam,” arguing that environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are recommitting to the core American values of innovation, growth, exceptionalism, and opportunity,” Zeldin wrote.

According to an EPA press release, the planned changes will affect regulations on power plant pollution, oil and gas industry standards, wastewater rules for coal plants, and restrictions on hazardous air pollutants like mercury. Zeldin stated that these efforts will significantly reduce regulatory costs and ease financial burdens on American households.

Another media “fact check” face plant where the fact checker doesn’t have the slightest clue what he’s talking about. “OOOO b/c” is not a typo. 

40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOO, or Quad O, is a federal reg under the Clean Air Act.

Also, those aren’t zeroes, it’s the letter “O”. pic.twitter.com/adPkShbPHS

— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) March 13, 2025

“From the campaign trail to day one and beyond, President Trump has delivered on his promise to unleash energy dominance and lower the cost of living,” Zeldin said. “We at EPA will do our part to power the Great American comeback.”

The announcement has been met with mixed reactions. Environmental groups condemned the changes, while industry leaders and business groups welcomed them.

“Voters sent a clear message in support of affordable, reliable, and secure American energy, and the Trump administration is answering the call,” said Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute.

Marty Durbin of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also supported the move, arguing that excessive regulations had harmed businesses and increased costs for families.

“American businesses were crippled with an unprecedented regulatory onslaught during the previous administration that contributed to higher costs felt by families around the country,” Durbin said.

The full list of deregulatory actions is available on the EPA’s website.