Former President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday evening in Lubbock, Texas, that his administration is moving to rescind methane emissions regulations put in place during the Biden administration. The measures targeted leaks and emissions from the oil and gas industry, aiming to reduce greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.
Speaking at a campaign rally, Trump characterized the Biden-era methane rules as costly and burdensome for small energy producers, asserting that eliminating the regulations would save consumers and businesses an estimated $45 billion. He also claimed the rollback would unlock the production of 210 million barrels of oil, roughly equivalent to 10 days of U.S. petroleum consumption. Trump framed the move as part of his broader effort to encourage domestic energy production while responding to criticism over rising fuel prices amid ongoing tensions with Iran.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lez Zeldin supported the decision, describing it as an effort to end what he called a “war on oil and natural gas” and revising regulations under the Clean Air Act. According to the EPA’s projection, the rollback is expected to reduce regulatory costs and increase oil and natural gas output, particularly benefiting small businesses operating marginal wells.
The methane rule, finalized in 2024, required oil and gas operators to reduce leaks, flaring, and venting of methane and volatile organic compounds, which contribute to both climate change and public health risks. It was the first federal policy to impose nationwide limits on methane emissions at existing oil and gas facilities. The rule also mandated investigation of significant methane leaks detected using EPA-approved remote sensing technology.
The Trump administration’s announcement follows a March 2025 statement from Zeldin indicating the EPA’s intention to reconsider Biden-era methane regulations to prioritize U.S. energy dominance and emissions reductions. Methane emissions from the U.S. oil and gas sector remain a major concern; last year, the United States emitted more methane from this sector than any other country. Methane is responsible for roughly a quarter of current global warming.
Industry groups have both publicly supported and privately lobbied against the methane rules. Documents obtained by the watchdog organization Fieldnotes under the Freedom of Information Act reveal more than three dozen meetings between oil and gas representatives and the EPA during the current administration’s first year. Julia Kane, a Fieldnotes researcher, criticized the EPA’s close coordination with industry, describing it as unprecedented access and influence that has led to weakened regulatory measures.
At a rally earlier Tuesday in Corpus Christi, Texas, Trump acknowledged Harold Hamm, founder of Continental Resources. The company sent a letter in April opposing parts of the methane rule that restrict routine flaring of associated gas.
Since the EPA announced it would no longer enforce the methane rules in March, oil and gas operators have reportedly leaked, vented, or flared natural gas valued at approximately $7 billion, according to calculations by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Rosalie Winn, senior director at the EDF, condemned the rollback as enabling major polluters to increase profits while continuing to waste energy and exacerbate climate pollution.
The regulatory rollback symbolizes a continuing debate between environmental priorities and energy industry interests as the U.S. seeks to balance climate goals with economic and geopolitical pressures.