Earthjustice

Rule Changes

Co-counsel in D.C. Circuit appeal

Community groups in Baltimore, Nashville, and San Diego were promised federal money to clean up pollution and cool overheated neighborhoods. On June 12, a federal judge ruled the EPA broke the law when it cut off the entire $2.8 billion program.

Updated 2 days ago

Rule Changes

Lead plaintiff in D.C. Circuit lawsuit; co-petitioner for administrative reconsideration filed April 16, 2026

The EPA's February 2026 revocation of its 2009 endangerment finding ended federal greenhouse gas authority, but the rollbacks kept coming. By May 2026, the agency had also repealed mercury protections for coal plants, relaxed refrigerant deadlines for businesses, and sent a final rule to the White House budget office to erase power plant emissions standards.

Updated May 30

Rule Changes

Opposing proposed rule, precedent of challenging similar rules in court

For 50 years, states have held veto power over pipelines, dams, and power plants crossing their waterways. On January 14, 2026, the EPA proposed a rule to prevent states and tribes from blocking federally permitted energy projects based on anything beyond direct water pollution.

Updated May 21

Rule Changes

Leading lawsuit to block Trump’s first Gulf lease auction

Donald Trump's second-term energy agenda has moved from a single Gulf auction to a full-scale offshore transformation. The December 10 Gulf lease sale—81.2 million acres at a 12.5% royalty rate, generating $279.4 million—was just the opening move. By year's end, the administration had proposed a sweeping 2026-2031 leasing plan covering 1.27 billion acres off California, Florida and Alaska, and scheduled a second Gulf sale for March 11, 2026. It simultaneously halted all five major East Coast offshore wind projects, citing national security risks; Shell-INEOS's early January oil discovery south of New Orleans showed the industry's bet on deepwater Gulf prospects.

Updated May 10