President Donald Trump said on Tuesday evening that his administration will "terminate" regulations introduced under his predecessor that require oil and gas companies to address large methane leaks.
Speaking at a campaign-style rally in Lubbock, Texas, Trump described the Biden-era rules as "expensive and unnecessary" and said removing them would "save consumers and energy producers" money. He said the change would produce $45 billion in savings and free up 210 million barrels of oil — an amount he characterised as roughly equal to 10 days of U.S. petroleum consumption.
The rules Trump targeted were designed to hold oil and gas operators accountable for significant releases of methane, a potent planet-warming gas. Supporters of those regulations have argued they help curb greenhouse gas emissions and protect the climate, while some industry groups and Republican lawmakers have criticised the measures as burdensome.
Critics of the administration's announcement warned the move would increase climate risks by rolling back controls on methane emissions. Environmental campaigners say methane has a significant short-term warming effect and that tighter regulation is an important part of broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.
Trump framed the rollback as relief for small oil and gas operators, saying it would remove what he called "crippling regulations on methane that caused prices to skyrocket." Opponents counter that relaxing oversight could lead to more unchecked leaks and undermine U.S. climate goals, setting up a likely legal and political fight over the rollback in the months ahead.