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The current administration wasted no time in dismantling the environmental justice offices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“Today is the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen. We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down the cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S., and more,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
The 31 measures fall under one of three broader initiatives: unleashing American energy, lowering the cost of living for American families, and advancing cooperative federalism. The reconsideration of policies regarding particulate matter, visibility, and hazardous material emissions is driven by the goal of removing what the administration views as burdensome regulations. “The United States has made significant gains in improving visibility in national parks and other wildlife areas. The Regional Haze Program was never intended to justify shutting down every power plant and industrial sector in the country. It’s time to restore sanity and purpose to the program,” Zeldin said.
On one hand, restructuring environmental protections may benefit domestic energy production and affordability. However, ecological burdens have been shown to disproportionately impact Black Americans, immigrant populations, and low-income communities. Zeldin’s approach aligns with President Trump’s promises to curb federal overreach, yet environmental justice advocates overwhelmingly warn that, left unchecked, industry will prioritize profits over public health and environmental well-being.
Currently, the 24-hour National Air Quality Standard for particulate matter (PM₂.₅) is 12.0 µg/m³, meaning companies must ensure their emissions do not exceed this threshold. Now, the U.S. EPA is lowering that standard to 9.0 µg/m³, allowing companies to spend less on compliance and avoid fines for exceeding federal limits. Industry proponents of this reversal have hailed the restructuring as a win for U.S.-based manufacturers.
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement in response to the deregulation announcement: “President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin have answered the calls of manufacturers across the country to rebalance and reconsider burdensome federal regulations harming America’s ability to compete—including the previous administration’s unworkable PM₂.₅ NAAQS rule.”
The statement also cites the financial burden of compliance, estimating that stringent regulations cost manufacturers $350 billion annually.
With the federal government rescinding these protections, the responsibility now shifts to state and local governments. Cook County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) is preparing to implement a new environmental justice policy aimed at shaping programming and guiding decisions across its offices. Environmental justice is a core component of DES’s mission and a central focus of the Cook County Policy Roadmap, particularly within its Sustainable Communities pillar. This initiative seeks to promote environmental justice by ensuring equitable investments throughout the county to address historical disinvestment and disproportionate pollution burdens.
As Cook County contends with the escalating impacts of environmental inequities and prepares for the challenges posed by climate change, these efforts are integral to its strategic plan. The county is also working to strengthen interdepartmental collaboration on environmental issues affecting overburdened communities.
Dr. Mila Marshall is an environmental professional and journalist with a passion for advancing sustainability in all sectors. Her passion is directed towards urban food systems in segregated cities.