The headline that’s grabbing attention this week comes straight from Washington, where a government shutdown has forced the Environmental Protection Agency to furlough 90% of its staff, halting most regulatory action and casting uncertainty over everything from air and water protections to chemical safety. According to the LA Times, only about 1,700 of the EPA’s nearly 15,000 employees remain active, focusing strictly on essential emergency work. This means that pesticide registrations, chemical reviews, and most community health protections are paused, leaving states and local agencies to pick up the slack—if they can.

This dramatic interruption landed just as the agency was rolling out sweeping deregulation moves under Administrator Lee Zeldin, following President Trump’s executive directives to slash environmental rules and "unleash American energy." In recent months, the EPA proposed repealing greenhouse gas standards for fossil fuel power plants, as well as vehicle emission rules dating back to 2010. These actions, detailed in outlets like FreshLaw and Holland & Knight, target regulations that had previously curbed pollution from coal, oil, and gas. The EPA’s stated aim is to ease “undue burdens” on energy producers and manufacturers, but the rollback has stirred intense debate among scientists, legal experts, and public health advocates.

A highlight: The EPA’s latest proposal calls for dropping the landmark 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health—a move that could wipe out the foundation for nearly every current federal rule targeting climate pollution. Energy Secretary Chris Wright released an accompanying report questioning the link between greenhouse gases and climate change, inviting thirty days of public comment. Administrator Zeldin said, “Our nation’s energy independence cannot be sacrificed to regulatory overreach,” framing the shift as essential for jobs and economic growth.

For American citizens, the impacts are direct and immediate. With core protections and routine safety checks paused, communities—especially those near industrial sites—may see delayed pollution response and fewer proactive safeguards. Businesses and manufacturers, meanwhile, could benefit from relaxed rules and lower compliance costs, but face long-term uncertainty as legal challenges are almost certain. State and local governments are left to fill in critical gaps, often without additional funding, while global partners watch the U.S. pull back on climate commitments.

Listeners should know that all of these proposed changes are subject to public review and may be contested in court. The public has a chance to weigh in via the EPA’s open comment periods, especially on the greenhouse gas and vehicle regulations—deadlines are coming up in October and November, and your voice can shape the outcome.

Stay tuned: Watch for updates on the government shutdown, developments from the EPA’s deregulation agenda, and upcoming judicial hearings that could decide the future of American climate policy. For more info or to submit comments, head to epa.gov.

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