Senator Whitehouse Criticizes EPA Deregulation and Warns of Climate and Economic Risks
Washington, D.C., March 26, 2025 — In a Senate floor statement delivered during the 119th Congress, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) addressed recent developments regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its mission to protect the environment and human health.
Senator Whitehouse began by criticizing EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s announcement to reconsider over 30 existing environmental protections, claiming it marked the beginning of what he called “the greatest day of deregulation” under the Trump administration. Whitehouse expressed concerns that the focus of the EPA, historically bipartisan in its mission to safeguard the environment, was being shifted to serve the interests of the fossil fuel industry.
The senator argued that the rollback of these regulations would leave Americans dependent on expensive, polluting fossil fuels, while other nations advance in developing cleaner, more efficient energy sources. He further contended that such actions would lead to increased pollution, including more mercury from coal-fired power plants, poor air quality, and heightened carbon emissions, ultimately exacerbating the climate crisis.
Whitehouse also took issue with Zeldin’s dismissal of climate change as a “religion,” reaffirming that climate change is based on well-established, scientific evidence, particularly from the fossil fuel industry’s own research. He underscored the economic risks of ignoring the science behind climate change and criticized the proposed slashing of regulations that could increase exposure to harmful pollutants and elevate costs for American families.
Furthermore, the senator addressed the concept of the social cost of carbon, a metric used to calculate the economic damage caused by each ton of carbon pollution. Whitehouse emphasized that the Biden administration’s estimation of the social cost of carbon is grounded in science and economics, providing a basis for government decision-making. However, he warned that Administrator Zeldin’s push to downplay this cost would allow the fossil fuel industry to avoid paying the full price for its pollution, thus burdening taxpayers with hidden costs.
In closing, Whitehouse stressed the systemic economic risks posed by climate change, pointing to previous hearings he had chaired as part of the Senate Budget Committee, where experts highlighted the potential for climate-related disruptions to undermine the economy. He called for a shift away from fossil fuels to avoid worsening the climate crisis and economic instability.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on official statements and proceedings from the U.S. Congressional Record, a public government source. The content reflects remarks made by members of Congress and has been edited solely for clarity and length. EnergyRoundup.com presents these records for informational purposes and does not endorse any political viewpoint.
