EPA Chief Lee Zeldon Backs Trump: Climate Change Called a “Con Job”
The automotive and energy industries just got another political jolt. This week, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldon went on Fox News to echo President Donald Trump’s recent remarks at the United Nations, where Trump described climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” Zeldon agreed, going further by criticizing how environmental policy has been used to funnel billions into what he called politically connected “green projects” rather than direct solutions.
EPA Shifts Under Trump
Under the Trump administration’s second term, the EPA has already moved to roll back major climate regulations. The endangerment finding—the legal basis that allows the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant—is reportedly being scrapped. Emissions standards that once pushed automakers toward electrification and costly compliance schemes are also being rolled back. For automakers, this signals a very different regulatory environment than what they faced under Biden, with looser rules and fewer penalties.
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Zeldon’s Argument
Zeldon argued that climate policies, under the guise of “justice,” have harmed working-class Americans by driving up energy costs and killing jobs in traditional industries. He cited grants such as $50 million to the “Climate Justice Alliance,” and billions funneled into groups linked to former Democratic officials, as examples of misuse. His message was clear: environmental spending has become a political slush fund rather than a tool to directly improve air quality or infrastructure.
What It Means for Automakers
This shift matters for car buyers and manufacturers. With emissions penalties reduced to zero for several years, the pressure to downsize engines or abandon V8s is gone—at least at the federal level. That’s why brands like Dodge and Ram are considering the return of HEMI-powered models and even horsepower bumps, especially for federal-market states where CARB regulations don’t apply. Zeldon’s alignment with Trump reinforces that the federal government will no longer use climate rules to choke out high-performance vehicles.
Looking Ahead
Critics argue that dismissing climate change as a “con job” risks ignoring genuine environmental challenges. Supporters counter that the Green New Deal era of subsidies and over regulation was less about saving the planet and more about redistributing wealth. Either way, the EPA under Zeldon is making it clear: the focus will shift from carbon reduction mandates to deregulation, reduced compliance costs, and an open path for industries to operate with fewer restrictions.
For car enthusiasts, this political pivot could be a lifeline for performance engines and more affordable trucks and SUVs. But for climate activists, it marks a dramatic reversal of policy that once pushed the auto industry toward electrification.
