Trump Rolls Back Methane Limits, Citing $45 Billion in Savings

WHO:

NPR - The American Petroleum Institute, through vice president Dustin Meyer, said it welcomed working with the Trump administration on a “more workable approach” that supports U.S. energy production, provides regulatory certainty and continues emissions reductions.

NPR - UC Santa Barbara political science professor Paasha Mahdavi said the Super Emitter Program helps the government identify and prosecute major methane leaks reported by certified third parties.

NPR - Environmental Defense Fund associate vice president Jon Goldstein said capturing methane can increase the amount of natural gas available to sell and offset compliance costs.

NPR - President Donald Trump said his administration was ending a Biden-era rule targeting methane emissions from oil and gas drilling.

NPR - Trump made the announcement at a rally in Lubbock, Texas, supporting Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.

Fox Business - Trump said the change would save consumers and energy producers $45 billion, unlock Texas natural gas, and allow production of 210 million barrels of oil.

NPR - Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said the rule would have cost $18 billion and held back the U.S. energy industry.

NPR - Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp criticized the rollback, saying it gave companies a “free pass” at consumers’ expense. He said, “EPA should be fighting this waste, not making it easier.”

Fox Business - Zeldin said, “The Trump EPA is committed to fixing this so the U.S. can reach its full energy potential.”

WHAT:

NPR - Methane is estimated to be 80 times more planet-warming than carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe.

NPR - The proposed changes would be made under the Clean Air Act.

NPR - The Super Emitter Program was scheduled to take effect in January 2027 and would allow the government to delegate monitoring of major methane leaks to certified third parties, including private and nonprofit satellite programs.

NPR - The EPA planned at least a 45-day public-comment period and a public hearing after publishing the proposed rule changes in the Federal Register.

NPR - Jon Goldstein said methane that leaks or is flared represents gas that could otherwise be sold; he also said wasted gas means lost royalty and tax revenue for taxpayers.

Fox Business - Trump said the rollback would “unlock vast quantities of Texas natural gas.”

Fox Business - Trump said, “We've been working on this for a long time.”

NPR - The 210 million barrels of oil Trump said the rollback would unlock equal about 10 days of U.S. petroleum consumption.

NPR - The rule’s projected $98 billion in benefits by 2034 was calculated using future “social costs” of greenhouse gas emissions on public health and the environment, an approach Trump’s EPA rejected.

NPR - The methane fee would have been the first time the U.S. government directly imposed a fee or tax on greenhouse gas emissions.

NPR - Before the Biden-era rule, U.S. regulations focused only on new oil and gas wells.

NPR - The Biden methane rule was announced at a 2023 U.N. climate conference in the United Arab Emirates.

NPR - The Obama administration also tried to curb methane from oil and gas operations, but that effort was scaled back during Trump’s first term.

NPR - The Biden-era rule covered existing oil and gas wells and required measures to detect and address methane leaks, including at smaller wells.

NPR - The rule was projected to prevent 58 million tons (52.6 million metric tonnes) of methane emissions by 2038 and deliver $98 billion in benefits by 2034.

NPR - Small wells produce 6% of U.S. oil and gas but account for as much as half of methane emissions from oil and gas fields.

NPR - Methane causes about one-third of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, according to scientists; oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source.

NPR - The EPA planned to end its “Super Emitter Program,” which requires companies to investigate and repair major methane releases, and to set less restrictive standards for small wells.

NPR - Congress repealed the methane “waste emissions charge,” which could have reached $1,500 per metric ton for producers exceeding specified emissions levels.

Fox Business - Environmental groups said the rollback would increase pollution.

WHERE:

NPR - Trump announced the rollback at a rally in Lubbock, Texas; the rule concerned oil and gas operations in the United States.

WHY:

NPR - The American Petroleum Institute said companies faced challenges complying with the 2023 methane rules.

NPR - Paasha Mahdavi said removing the Super Emitter Program would make it harder for the government to detect large methane leaks.

NPR - The rollback was intended to encourage more domestic drilling as Trump faced criticism over high fuel prices amid the war in Iran.

NPR - Trump said Biden’s plan “crushed the small operators” with regulations and called the methane rules “expensive and unnecessary.”

NPR - Trump’s administration said the change would save consumers and energy producers money and support domestic drilling amid high fuel prices.

HOW:

NPR - The Biden rule was published in 2024; EPA delayed implementation by 18 months to give companies time to meet inspection requirements and other provisions.

(UPDATED October 29, 2026 01:14 UTC)

President Trump announced that his administration would roll back Biden-era rules requiring oil and gas companies to detect and fix methane leaks, saying the change would lower costs and boost domestic energy production. The EPA also plans to end the Super Emitter Program, which uses certified third parties to identify major leaks, and ease standards for smaller wells; methane is a powerful planet-warming gas, and critics warn the changes could increase pollution. The American Petroleum Institute welcomed a more workable approach, while environmental advocates said weaker oversight could waste sellable gas and leave consumers paying the price.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 19:03 UTC)

President Trump announced he is ending the Biden-era methane rule for oil and gas operations, saying the rollback would save consumers and producers $45 billion and boost domestic energy production. The rule required companies to detect and repair methane leaks, including at smaller wells, and was projected to cut emissions by 58 million tons and deliver $98 billion in benefits by 2034; the EPA also plans to end its program targeting major methane releases and ease standards for small wells. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the rule would have held back the energy industry, while Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp criticized the rollback as a “free pass” for companies, and environmental groups warned it would increase pollution.

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 10:59 UTC)

President Trump announced he is ending the Biden-era methane rule for oil and gas operations, saying the rollback would save consumers and energy producers $45 billion and encourage more domestic drilling. The rule covered existing wells, required companies to detect and repair leaks, and was projected to prevent 58 million tons of methane emissions by 2038 while delivering $98 billion in benefits by 2034. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the rule would have held back the energy industry, while environmental advocates warned the rollback would increase pollution and give companies a “free pass.”

(UPDATED October 28, 2026 10:00 UTC)

President Trump announced he is ending a Biden-era methane rule for U.S. oil and gas wells, saying the rollback would save consumers and energy producers $45 billion and support domestic drilling. The rule required companies to detect and repair methane leaks, including at smaller wells, and was projected to prevent 58 million tons of emissions by 2038; the EPA also plans to end its program targeting major releases and set less restrictive standards for small wells. Environmental groups warned the changes would increase pollution, while EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the rule would have cost $18 billion and held back the energy industry.