Former President Barack Obama has been criticising President Donald Trump for a period of time now and again today, he sharply criticized the Trump administration’s decision to repeal the EPA’s 2009 endangerment finding.
Through his official X account, Obama described the move as a setback that leaves Americans “less safe, less healthy, and less able to fight climate change,” accusing it of prioritizing profits for the fossil fuel industry.
The endangerment finding, issued during Obama’s presidency, concluded that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide threaten public health and welfare.
This scientific determination provided the legal foundation under the Clean Air Act for federal regulations limiting tailpipe emissions from vehicles and emissions from power plants, forming a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy for nearly two decades.
On February 12, 2026, President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the repeal, calling it the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.
The administration eliminated the finding along with associated greenhouse gas standards for vehicles (model years 2012–2027 and beyond), claiming it would save taxpayers over $1.3 trillion, reduce vehicle costs, and restore consumer choice by ending what they labeled an overreaching Obama-era policy.
Environmental advocates and former officials condemned the reversal as a denial of established climate science, warning of increased emissions and health risks. Supporters hailed it as relief from burdensome regulations stifling economic growth and the auto industry.
Obama’s post, which garnered significant engagement, underscores the deep partisan divide on climate policy in the U.S. The repeal paves the way for further rollbacks on emissions rules, though legal challenges from states and groups are expected.
Author: Bashirjuma
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