EPA rollback of pollution protections threatens Wisconsinites’ health, jobs, and cost of living

Washington D.C. – In a sweeping and dangerous move, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – under Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zelden – has rescinded the landmark 2009 Endangerment Finding and rolled back vehicle pollution standards.

The rollback undermines decades of bipartisan progress reducing harmful emissions and fossil fuel pollution and protecting public health. This decision threatens the health of Wisconsin families, puts clean energy jobs at risk, and could raise costs for working people across the state and country.

Federal Government Affairs Manager Casey Hicks made this statement:

“Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zelden have made their climate denial official U.S. policy, prioritizing polluters and fossil fuel industries above the health of Americans.

Wisconsinites experience the threat of climate change everyday such as air quality alerts due to wildfire smoke, agricultural challenges due to warmer weather and flooding, and more. Without the Endangerment Finding and vehicle pollution standards, Wisconsin has no climate regulations and the EPA will not be required to protect people from harmful climate pollution.

The only ones who stand to benefit from this are wealthy polluters.

Losing these protections will worsen air pollution, lead to worse health outcomes for Wisconsinites, and cause energy costs to rise. Within only six months into his second term, Donald Trump has firmly secured his place as the most, anti-environment, pro-polluter president in U.S history. Wisconsinites, their families, and their futures deserve better.”

See the League of Conservation Voters official statement here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.