President Donald Trump has just granted regulatory relief from Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restrictions. 

The White House fact sheet explaining the steps taken by Trump can be read in its entirety here.

Trump is arguing that his actions will "promote American security."

FACT SHEET
President Donald J. Trump Grants Regulatory Relief from Burdensome EPA Restrictions to Promote American Security

President Trump signed four proclamations granting regulatory relief from Biden-era EPA restrictions for coal plants, taconite iron ore processing…

— WhiteHouse.gov News (@whgovnews) July 17, 2025

The details:

Trump has just signed four proclamations in relation to Biden-era EPA regulations.

The Associated Press reports:

Trump issued a series of proclamations late Thursday exempting a range of industries that he calls vital to national security. The proclamations cover coal-fired power plants, taconite iron ore processing facilities used to make steel, and chemical manufacturers that help produce semiconductors and medical device sterilizers.

The outlet goes on to explain that "the proclamations allow the facilities to comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards that were in place before rules imposed in recent years by President Joe Biden’s administration."

Trump's actions will result in at least two years of regulatory relief for these facilities.

While the move is being celebrated by Trump and Republicans, Democrats see this as an affront to their climate change agenda.

The problem

The White House, in its press release, explained why the Biden-era regulations are no good for America.

It writes:

Biden-era emissions standards impose costly and, in some cases, unattainable compliance requirements on these industries essential to national interests. The technologies necessary to comply with these Biden-era standards are further not commercially viable in many instances.

Trump, in contrast, is taking a "pragmatic approach," one in which he looks to ensure "environmental policies support, rather than undermine, America’s economic strength and national security."

The White House, however, takes care to let Americans know that this is not at the expense of the environment. "President Trump has consistently prioritized a pragmatic approach, ensuring environmental policies support, rather than undermine, America’s economic strength and national security," the White House states.

The press release concludes by highlighting several steps that Trump has taken to protect the environment. It states:

President Trump has sought to protect American industries while maintaining standards that allow Americans to have among the cleanest air and water in the world. . . He paused the expansion of windmills, recognizing their detrimental environmental impact, particularly on wildlife, often outweighs their benefits.