US President Donald Trump has announced plans to repeal regulations introduced during the Biden administration aimed at reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Speaking at a rally in Lubbock, Texas, Trump argued that these regulations were costly and unnecessary, claiming that rolling them back would save $45 billion and enable the production of 210 million additional barrels of oil.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under Administrator Lee Zeldin, is seeking to revise emissions regulations for oil and natural gas operations as part of this rollback. These proposed changes, according to the EPA, could also allow for the production of an additional 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The move has sparked concern among environmental and public health organizations, which warn that easing methane controls could worsen air quality and contribute to global warming. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and its release into the atmosphere—often through leaks, venting, and flaring in oil and gas operations—can also lead to the emission of harmful pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde.
The Biden-era regulations, introduced in 2024, aimed to reduce methane emissions from existing oil and gas facilities by setting nationwide standards, limiting leaks, and reducing routine flaring. These rules also included a program to detect and address major emissions events using approved monitoring technologies.
The Trump administration began reconsidering these regulations in March 2025, arguing that they could potentially restrict domestic energy production and weaken the competitiveness of the US energy sector. Proponents of the rollback believe that reducing regulatory burdens could lead to increased oil and gas production, while environmental groups warn of the risks to public health and the environment.
This ongoing debate underscores the tension between expanding fossil fuel production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The ultimate impact of the proposed regulatory changes will depend on the final rules adopted and how they are implemented.