Trump says he's ending restrictions on climate-warming methane from oil drilling

President Donald Trump announced that his administration is ending a Biden-era rule intended to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production. At a Texas rally, he said repeal would save energy producers and consumers $45 billion and make 210 million barrels of oil available - roughly ten days of U.S. petroleum use. His administration argues the regulation imposed excessive costs and restrained domestic drilling, as Trump faces pressure over fuel prices. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has said the rollback would eliminate a program requiring companies to investigate and repair major methane releases, while easing standards for smaller wells.

Methane is a powerful heat-trapping gas, and oil and gas operations are its largest industrial source. The Biden rule covered existing as well as new wells, including small wells that produce only 6% of U.S. oil and gas but may account for up to half of industry methane emissions. Federal officials estimated the rule would prevent 58 million tons of methane pollution by 2038 and generate $98 billion in benefits by 2034, including health and climate gains. The Trump administration disputes the rule’s cost-benefit approach; environmental advocates say repeal will let companies waste gas that could serve households and increase pollution. The rollback follows other reversals of Biden-era climate measures and Congress’s repeal of a methane emissions fee.