Washington — Andrew Wheeler, the acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is continuing the Trump administration’s push to roll back environmental regulations, signaling that he plans to make those changes durable enough to withstand future challenges.
Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist, has moved quickly to advance several deregulatory efforts begun under his predecessor, Scott Pruitt. These include easing restrictions on carbon emissions from power plants, reducing fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, and revisiting rules governing clean water and methane leaks.
In his first public remarks since assuming leadership, Wheeler emphasized that the agency’s goal is to create regulations that can endure legal scrutiny and political turnover. “We are not just seeking to undo unnecessary burdens,” he said, “but to ensure that the rules we implement are reasonable, clear, and lasting.”
Environmental groups remain critical, arguing that the agency’s approach prioritizes industry interests over public health and environmental protection. They warn that many of the proposed rollbacks could accelerate climate change and harm communities that rely on federal safeguards for air and water quality.
Supporters of the administration counter that the new direction restores balance and removes costly overreach that stifled economic growth. They contend that the rollbacks will bring clarity to businesses and states after years of regulatory uncertainty.
Wheeler’s leadership style is seen as more methodical and less confrontational than Pruitt’s, but his policy agenda largely mirrors it. Analysts say his approach could make it more difficult for future administrations to reverse course, particularly if the agency builds stronger legal and procedural justifications for each change.
As the EPA moves forward, the stakes remain high for both industry and environmental advocates, with court battles almost certain to determine how far the agency can go in reshaping decades of federal environmental policy.
