By Abbas Nazil
The Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump has rolled back key air and climate regulations, raising concerns over rising pollution and health risks in Texas.
Since the first year of Trump’s second term, his administration has implemented 31 deregulatory actions targeting soot standards, power plant pollution rules, and the legal framework requiring the EPA to regulate climate-changing emissions under the Clean Air Act.
The agency also froze research grants, reduced workforce capacity, and removed references to climate change and environmental justice from its website, moves that advocates say signal a deprioritization of public health protections.
Environmental groups warn Texas is particularly vulnerable because state authorities have shown limited enforcement of environmental rules, leaving residents exposed to higher pollution levels and health hazards.
A major rollback involves methane regulations designed to curb emissions from oil and gas operations, which account for the largest source of methane in the United States.
The rules, finalized under the Biden administration in 2024, required operators to monitor emissions, detect leaks using imaging cameras, and reduce routine flaring of excess gas.
Under the Trump EPA, deadlines for compliance in Texas have been extended to January 2027, leaving the state without a formal plan to capture methane.
Data from New Mexico, which implemented its own methane rules, shows emissions in its portion of the Permian Basin have been reduced by half, even as production increased, highlighting the gap in Texas’ approach.
The Trump EPA has also delayed stricter particulate matter (PM 2.5) standards, which were linked to premature deaths, asthma, and heart disease.
Texas’ designation of nonattainment counties stalled after the federal government failed to act on submissions from Governor Greg Abbott.
Additional moves by the administration include proposals to eliminate the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program and rescind the Endangerment Finding, which obligates regulation of climate pollution.
Experts warn that removing reporting requirements could harm both public health and the competitiveness of Texas’ energy industry, as international buyers increasingly demand data on greenhouse gas emissions.
Critics say the administration’s rollbacks undermine decades of environmental protections and erode the EPA’s fundamental role in safeguarding health, safety, and the environment.
The retreat from federal climate and air quality regulations has created uncertainty for both communities and industries, signaling potential long-term consequences for Texas’ environmental and economic stability.
