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Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration has formally rolled back a key U.S. climate policy while largely sidelining a controversial Department of Energy report that challenged mainstream climate science. The so-called “endangerment finding,” which underpinned decades of environmental regulation, was eliminated Thursday, marking a major shift in federal climate strategy.
Last year, Energy Secretary Chris Wright commissioned five researchers to produce a 141-page report questioning widely accepted climate models. The report, which drew criticism from internal DOE scientists, external climate experts, and public interest groups, became a focal point for climate contrarians. Despite its prominence, the administration’s final rulemaking did not rely on the DOE report’s arguments, instead taking a regulatory approach aimed at reducing compliance costs and easing restrictions for U.S. consumers.
Judith Curry, a former Georgia Tech climate scientist involved in the report, defended the research in a statement, claiming “politicized science and a manufactured consensus” can mislead policymakers and lead to ineffective policies. Critics, however, say the report demonstrates the robustness of mainstream climate science, noting that any legal reliance on the DOE findings could have faced significant challenges in court.
The move highlights a careful balancing act by the Trump administration: publicly mocking climate science while avoiding court battles that could undermine regulatory rollbacks. For climate scientists and activists, the decision offers reassurance that the foundational science behind U.S. climate policy remains largely intact.