The Senate environment and public works committee has launched an investigation into a suspected lobbying campaign that led to the Trump administration’s decision to overturn a crucial climate regulation, the endangerment finding.
What Happened
On Tuesday, the committee sent letters to nearly two dozen corporations, including major oil companies, think tanks, and trade associations, requesting documents related to the 2009 endangerment finding. This declaration by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) affirmed that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases harm human health and the environment, providing a foundation for climate regulations under the Clean Air Act. The Trump administration, however, announced plans to rescind this finding in July, sparking concerns that the decision was heavily influenced by fossil fuel industries.
Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the committee’s ranking member, emphasized the potential political influence behind the reversal. In his letter to the companies, he wrote: “Rescinding the endangerment finding at the behest of industry is irresponsible, legally dubious, and deeply out of step with the EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.”
The Role of the Fossil Fuel Industry
Fossil fuel companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP were specifically targeted by the Senate committee. The endangerment finding had granted the EPA the authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, posing a threat to fossil fuel industries whose operations produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. By overturning the finding, the Trump administration would limit the EPA’s power to regulate emissions and potentially reduce the impact on the oil and gas industries.
The Senate committee’s investigation focuses on whether these corporations, alongside trade groups and pro-fossil fuel think tanks like the Heartland Institute and the Heritage Foundation, played a role in pressuring the administration to undo the regulation.
Political and Legal Pushback
Although Republicans hold control of the Senate, limiting the committee’s ability to subpoena documents, the investigation is seen as a way to signal that polluting industries are under scrutiny. Whitehouse and other Democratic senators hope that the probe will lay the groundwork for further inquiries should the political landscape shift in next year’s midterm elections.
“This investigation is not just about undoing the endangerment finding but also about the broader efforts by fossil fuel industries to weaken climate protections,” said Whitehouse. He added that the Trump administration’s stance on the environment is driven by a larger agenda to support fossil fuel interests, with former industry lobbyists now in key positions at the EPA.
Environmental Groups’ Lawsuits
In addition to the Senate investigation, two environmental non-profits have filed lawsuits, accusing the Trump administration of holding secret meetings with climate contrarians to push the rollback of the endangerment finding. The administration’s broader agenda of dismantling climate regulations has been a major point of contention, with environmental advocates fearing the implications for the future of global climate action.
What Happens Next
As the investigation continues, the Senate committee is expected to review the documents provided by the corporations and pressure industry actors to explain their roles in the decision to roll back the endangerment finding. This could be a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over climate policy in the US, especially as fossil fuel interests continue to push back against regulations that could limit their profitability.
Whitehouse concluded, “The fossil fuel industry controls much of the Trump administration’s climate policy. This investigation will shed light on whether these industries have exerted undue influence to weaken the environmental safeguards that protect the American public.”
