Former EPA Heads Decry Rollbacks of Key Environmental Regulations
Three former EPA administrators warn that revoking 31 key environmental regulations could reverse decades of progress and pose serious public health risks. They argue that the deregulation effort undermines the EPA’s mission despite promises of reduced costs and economic benefits.
Published on April 14, 2025
Three former EPA administrators—Gina McCarthy, William K. Reilly, and Christine Todd Whitman—have voiced strong opposition to EPA chief Lee Zeldin's plan to revoke 31 environmental regulations. In statements released around mid-March 2025, they characterized the move as a dangerous step that could undo decades of progress in protecting clean air, water, and climate stability. McCarthy described the decision as "the most disastrous day in EPA history," while Reilly called it a "catastrophe."
Additional reports from early to mid-March 2025 indicate that the proposed deregulations are part of a broader effort to cut regulatory costs, despite warnings that such changes will likely lead to increased pollution and jeopardize public health. Legal experts have noted that these sweeping reversals may face challenges under the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires detailed evidence and a proper public comment period before such actions are finalized.