Lee Zeldin

Built World

Overseeing repeal of federal climate rules

U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are on track to fall about 1.5% in 2026, the Energy Information Administration forecast in October. EIA's own figures show emissions also fell in 2023 and 2024 before rising 2.6% in 2025. The Global Carbon Project puts the U.S. drop at 1.3%, with output back near 1991 levels. EIA puts most of its forecast drop on lower coal use, then less gasoline and diesel; the Global Carbon Project ties the U.S. drop to the Iran war's oil shock, which raised fuel prices and cut consumption.

Updated Yesterday

Rule Changes

Overseeing the proposed methane rollback

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration is 'terminating' a Biden-era rule that required oil and gas companies to find and fix methane leaks. The Environmental Protection Agency released a draft rule that would scrap most of the 2023 regulation, including satellite-based leak detection and limits on burning excess gas.

Updated Oct 28

Rule Changes

Finalized rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding and vehicle GHG standards; defending the action in court

The Transportation Department's final fuel-economy rule, published September 28, sets the 2031 fleetwide target at 34.9 miles per gallon, down from 50.4 under President Biden. It also rewrites standards for model years 2022 through 2026 and ends the credit trading that let automakers buy and sell efficiency gains, starting in 2028.

Updated Oct 24

Rule Changes

Leading the current rulemaking; comment period closed October 9, moving toward final rule

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened a second public comment period in September on a rule that would sharply narrow which wetlands the Clean Water Act protects. That 30-day window closed October 9, after drawing fire from 19 state attorneys general and praise from homebuilders and farm groups.

Updated Oct 16

Rule Changes

As of October 2026: Leading the repeal effort

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule in September that wipes out most Biden-era limits on climate pollution from coal and gas plants. The rule takes effect November 16, and EPA projects $310 billion in savings without explaining how it derived that estimate.

Updated Oct 5

Rule Changes

As of October 2026: Finalized the repeal of power plant carbon standards

Six public health and environmental groups filed suit September 17 to block the Environmental Protection Agency's repeal of carbon pollution limits for power plants. On October 1, 21 states and several cities, led by New York, filed their own challenge in the same court.

Updated Oct 2

Rule Changes

As of September 2026: Repealing limits on power plant carbon emissions

Coal-fired electricity generation fell 11% in the first half of 2026, per the Financial Times, even as the Trump administration issued more than 20 emergency orders to keep aging plants running. In September a federal appeals court struck down the order keeping Michigan's Campbell plant open, ruling the Department of Energy overstepped its authority; days later the agency ordered plants in Indiana and Washington state to stay running.

Updated Sep 29

Rule Changes

As of September 2026: Ordered Solar for All's termination in August 2025

Two federal judges have ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency unlawfully canceled the $7 billion Solar for All program. Judge Tanya Chutkan of the U.S. District Court in Washington ruled Sept. 22 that the termination was 'arbitrary and capricious, contrary to law, and in excess of statutory authority.'

Updated Sep 25

Rule Changes

As of June 2026: Agency lost the ruling; may appeal

Community groups in Baltimore, Nashville, and San Diego were promised federal money to clean up pollution and cool overheated neighborhoods. On June 12, a federal judge ruled the EPA broke the law when it cut off the entire $2.8 billion program.

Updated Jun 13

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: EPA Administrator; leading candidate for permanent attorney general; Senate Republicans signal openness to nomination

President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, replacing her with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who defended Trump in the Manhattan criminal trial before joining the DOJ. He's the fourth Justice Department leader under Trump, after Sessions, Barr, and Bondi. Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans signaled they'd consider EPA administrator Lee Zeldin as permanent replacement. Legal scholars questioned whether Blanche could simultaneously serve as both acting attorney general and acting Librarian of Congress.

Updated May 30

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: EPA Administrator, named defendant in multiple lawsuits

The EPA's February 2026 revocation of its 2009 endangerment finding ended federal greenhouse gas authority, but the rollbacks kept coming. By May 2026, the agency had also repealed mercury protections for coal plants, relaxed refrigerant deadlines for businesses, and sent a final rule to the White House budget office to erase power plant emissions standards.

Updated May 30

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Leading EPA's reconsideration of Biden-era technology transitions rules

The Environmental Protection Agency gave HVAC contractors an extra year on Tuesday to install commercial air-conditioning equipment that uses older, higher-warming refrigerants. The final rule covers variable refrigerant flow systems manufactured or imported before January 1, 2026, and pushes the installation cutoff out to January 1, 2027.

Updated May 26

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Leading the agency's deregulatory agenda

For 50 years, states have held veto power over pipelines, dams, and power plants crossing their waterways. On January 14, 2026, the EPA proposed a rule to prevent states and tribes from blocking federally permitted energy projects based on anything beyond direct water pollution.

Updated May 21

Built World

As of May 2026: Confirmed January 2025; reviewing prior-administration water rules

Pennsylvania American Water confirmed $631 million in 2026 capital spending during Infrastructure Week. That was the largest single-state disclosure in the American Water Works rollout so far. Tennessee American Water followed with $40 million, closing out a week that began with Illinois's $290 million announcement on May 18.

Updated May 19

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Leading Trump administration rollback of Biden‑era climate and vehicle pollution rules

The EPA isn't killing Biden's vehicle pollution rules outright. It plans to keep looser 2026 standards in place for two extra model years instead of enforcing tougher limits on smog-forming pollution starting in 2027.

Updated May 11