Donald Trump has announced that his administration intends to dismantle key federal regulations designed to reduce methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations, marking another significant reversal of climate policies adopted under former President Joe Biden.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, Trump said the move would save energy producers and consumers an estimated $45 billion and make it possible to produce an additional 210 million barrels of oil. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, said its proposal would ease what the administration considers costly and burdensome restrictions on the energy industry.
The Biden-era regulations, finalized in 2024, required oil and gas companies to detect and address methane leaks from both new and existing facilities. They also established requirements to reduce emissions from equipment, limit the release of natural gas into the atmosphere, and respond to reports of exceptionally large methane leaks.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and a major contributor to global warming. Although it remains in the atmosphere for less time than carbon dioxide, it traps substantially more heat over the short term. Preventing leaks from oil and gas infrastructure is considered an important way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also conserving natural gas that would otherwise be wasted.
The Biden administration estimated that its regulations would prevent approximately 58 million tons of methane emissions by 2038 and deliver substantial long-term benefits to public health and the environment.
Trump’s proposed changes would relax requirements for smaller oil and gas wells and eliminate the EPA’s Super Emitter Program, which requires investigations into major methane releases identified through outside monitoring. The administration argues that the existing rules impose excessive costs, particularly on smaller energy producers, and impede domestic energy production.
Environmental advocates strongly oppose the rollback, warning that weaker standards could allow more methane to escape into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change and worsening pollution near oil and gas facilities. They also argue that capturing methane leaks would conserve a valuable energy resource rather than allowing it to go to waste.
The dispute reflects a broader divide over federal energy and climate policy. The Trump administration has prioritized expanding domestic fossil fuel production and reducing regulatory requirements, while environmental groups have emphasized the need for stronger controls on greenhouse gas emissions.
The EPA’s newly announced action is a proposal to revise the existing regulations, rather than evidence that every provision has already been formally repealed. Its ultimate effect will depend on the final regulatory action and its implementation. The decision could have significant implications for U.S. methane emissions, the oil and gas industry, and the country’s broader efforts to address climate change.
