Methane Regulations: Trump Vows to End Federal Leak Rules
The announcement in Lubbock cites $45 billion in savings, while watchdog groups point to repeated industry meetings with the EPA.
By Ariana Flores ·
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday evening that his administration is terminating the Biden-era regulations that require oil and gas companies to address methane leaks. The declaration took place during a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas.
Trump stated that the move would save consumers and energy producers $45 billion. He also claimed the change would unlock 210 million barrels of oil. This volume is equivalent to approximately 10 days of US petroleum consumption. "Tonight, I’m officially terminating Biden’s expensive and unnecessary methane regulations to save consumers and energy producers," Trump said.
The administration aims to encourage more domestic drilling. This strategy comes as Trump faces criticism regarding high fuel prices linked to the US war in Iran.
Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, praised the decision in a press release. Zeldin described the move as an effort to end the war on oil and natural gas. The EPA proposes revising oil and natural gas regulations under the Clean Air Act.
The agency estimates the proposal will save $45 billion in costs for consumers and businesses. It also projects the production of 210 million additional barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The 2024 rule mandated that operators eliminate and minimize the leaking, flaring, and venting of methane and volatile organic compounds. This was the first time the federal government set nationwide requirements to limit methane emissions from existing oil and gas facilities. A 2016 rule under the Obama administration applied only to new and modified sources.
Under the previous rule's super emitter program, companies were required to investigate major leaks near facilities. These leaks were detected by third parties using EPA-approved remote sensing technology.
Fieldnotes, an oil and gas watchdog organization, obtained records via the Freedom of Information Act. The materials show that industry trade groups and corporations worked behind the scenes to weaken the regulations. Some executives publicly supported the rule while privately pushing for changes.
Julia Kane, a researcher for Fieldnotes, stated that the Trump EPA was giving oil and gas corporations what they wanted. "The oil and gas industry says it’s a ‘good-faith’ partner eager to help craft regulations, but time and time again it’s worked behind the scenes to delay and weaken them," Kane said.
Records including calendar events and meeting request forms indicate that industry groups met with the EPA at least 38 times during the current administration's first year to discuss methane regulations.
Lee Fuller, executive of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, described a conference call with EPA staff as fascinating. He noted that staff were suddenly willing to discuss topics that industry representatives had requested for years.
During a rally in Corpus Christi earlier in the day, Trump acknowledged Harold Hamm, the founder of Continental Resources, who was in the audience. In April, Continental Resources sent a letter to the EPA opposing measures that prohibit the routine flaring of associated gas in the methane rule. Since the EPA announced in March 2025 that it would no longer enforce these regulations, operators have leaked, vented, or flared $7 billion worth of natural gas, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.
