By Abbas Nazil
A new study has revealed that U.S. coal-fired power plants emitted significantly more particulate pollution during the 2018–2019 government shutdown, when Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspectors were furloughed.
The research, conducted by scholars from Penn State, North Carolina A&T State University, and Binghamton University, found that particulate emissions rose by about 15% to 20% as soon as the EPA stopped monitoring pollution during the 35-day shutdown.
According to the findings, pollution levels returned to normal once inspections resumed, indicating that coal plant operators may have taken advantage of the lapse in enforcement.
The shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, and ended on January 25, 2019, was the longest in U.S. history.
During that period, nearly 95% of EPA employees, including almost all pollution inspectors, were furloughed, halting the enforcement of environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act.
Researchers analyzed six years of data, including air quality, weather conditions, and emissions records from more than 200 coal plants across the country.
Their results showed that while particulate matter increased during the shutdown, other pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides remained stable since those are continuously monitored by sensors.
Particulate matter, also known as PM2.5 and PM10, is particularly harmful as it can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk of asthma, heart disease, and premature death.
The study further ruled out weather changes, electricity demand, and coal type as causes for the pollution spike, confirming that the rise was linked to reduced oversight.
Researchers concluded that when EPA monitoring stopped, power plants likely reduced or turned off pollution control devices such as electrostatic precipitators to cut costs.
The study warns that environmental laws are only as effective as their enforcement and highlights that EPA enforcement staff had already declined by more than 20% between 2007 and 2018.
Since early 2025, staffing cuts have further weakened the agency’s ability to monitor and regulate emissions, putting the U.S. at greater environmental risk.
The authors stressed that continuous oversight is essential to ensure industries comply with pollution control standards and protect public health.
