The Supreme Court’s Impact on the Environmental Protection Agency

Recent decisions by the Supreme Court have significantly weakened the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate pollution, toxic chemicals, and greenhouse gases. The court’s conservative supermajority has been at the forefront of rulings that limit the power of federal agencies, with a particular focus on the E.P.A.

Challenges to E.P.A. Regulations

Since 2022, conservative activists have targeted E.P.A. regulations, arguing that they have led to increased costs for various industries. This narrative has found support among justices who are wary of government intervention. Recent rulings have not only impacted the E.P.A. but also other federal agencies involved in areas such as health care, workplace safety, and more.

Supreme Court Interventions

What stands out are the instances where the Supreme Court has stepped in to halt environmental regulations before lower courts could rule on them or even before they were implemented. For example, the court recently prevented the E.P.A. from enforcing limits on smokestack pollution that crosses state borders, a decision known as the “good neighbor rule.” This intervention occurred while the case was still pending at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.