We all knew what would happen when President Donald Trump dropped the hammer on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Obama-era “endangerment finding.” The announcement that he is ending the 2009 rule declaring greenhouse gases a threat to human health — and using that claim to justify sweeping regulation — sent the Left into full panic mode. Shocking, absolutely shocking.
That finding handed unelected bureaucrats the power to micromanage the economy under the banner of “climate policy.” Translation: higher costs, fewer choices, and more red tape. How dare a president try to unleash America’s economic potential and let consumers decide what they buy instead of federal regulators?
Right on cue, the Usual Suspects rushed to the fainting couch. A former president weighed in as if anyone asked, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined the choir of outrage. This is the same governor presiding over a state drowning in regulation, taxes, and business flight — so naturally, he’s upset that Washington won’t be copying California’s greatest hits.
And then there’s the old climate celebrity circuit: Al Gore, Barack Obama, and Newsom all lamenting the loss of a rule that concentrated enormous power in federal agencies. Funny how the people with multimillion-dollar mansions and frequent private-jet miles are always the loudest about restricting everyone else’s energy use.
Here’s the inconvenient truth for them: the endangerment finding gave far too much authority to regulators who answer to no voters. It allowed agencies to dictate national policy through technical rulings instead of laws passed by Congress. Trump’s move restores balance and puts decision-making back where it belongs — with elected leaders and the American people.
Liberals can keep crying into their reusable mugs, but this is a bold and overdue step toward economic freedom and common sense. If the people who wrecked California and lectured the country for years are furious, that’s a pretty good sign the policy is exactly right. And once again, Trump proves that when it comes to putting America’s economy first, he doesn’t ask permission — he delivers results.
