EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin tells climate skeptics to "celebrate vindication" after law repealed

Key Points:

• EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the repeal of the 2009 "endangerment finding," which legally underpinned federal climate change regulations, during a speech at a Heartland Institute conference, a group known for rejecting mainstream climate science.
• Zeldin hailed the repeal as a "vindication" against previous administrations' climate policies, aligning with the Trump administration's broader rollback of environmental protections and refusal to regulate greenhouse gases.
• Environmental groups condemned Zeldin's remarks, accusing him of promoting disinformation and enabling climate denial amid increasing climate-related disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.
• The repeal removes greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles and threatens to dismantle regulations on power plants and oil and gas facilities, prompting legal challenges from states, cities, and environmental organizations.
• The Heartland Institute, supported by fossil fuel interests, praised Zeldin's speech, while critics argue the administration is ignoring scientific consensus and public health risks to favor industry interests.