CAC, Climate Experts, and Thousands More Speak Out Against Trump Plan to Gut Lifesaving Carbon and MATS Standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 6, 2025

CONTACT: Gabrielle Levy, glevy@cacampaign.org

CAC, Climate Experts, and Thousands More Speak Out Against Trump Plan to Gut Lifesaving Carbon and MATS Standards

As Public Comment Periods Close, Advocates Warn EPA Rollbacks Threaten Americans’ Health and Futures

WASHINGTON–Tens of thousands of people, from America’s main streets to the halls of Congress, are speaking out against a plan to roll back pollution standards that protect all Americans from carbon, mercury, and other toxic pollution from fossil fuel-burning power plants.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin has proposed rolling back carbon pollution standards for existing coal and new gas-fired power plants and dismantling standards that limit dangerous Mercury and Air Toxics (MATS) pollution from coal plants. These rollbacks would worsen air quality, hurt public health, and exacerbate the climate crisis. The outpouring of opposition comes as the brief public comment periods on the rollbacks come to a close on August 7 for the carbon proposal and August 11 for MATS.

“Climate pollution is worsening health and living conditions for so many of our families  nationwide, which is why people across party lines strongly oppose their repeal,” said CAC Director Margie Alt.“The EPA was created to protect people, not polluters. Eliminating these vital air pollution and climate protections will make our families sick, poison the air, and make extreme weather triggered by the climate crisis more deadly and destructive. The EPA should honor its mission to protect our health and environment, not advance an agenda that puts polluters first.”

Here is how Americans are speaking out to defend clean air protections:

• People rallied to testify at virtual hearings on these rollbacks in June. Nearly 100 people at the carbon hearing and more than 120 at the MATS hearing shared powerful stories of how air pollution threatens their health or the health of their families.
• The public submitted at least 63,000 comments against each rollback to the EPA’s public docket.
• More than 100 organizations signed onto two letters opposing the Zeldin rollbacks, citing the public health and climate impacts of the proposals.
• Members of Congress also signed letters to EPA administrator Zeldin opposing the rollbacks of the standards.
• Leaders like Yosef Robele from WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Jayne Black of Moms Clean Air Force, and Texas Dr. Micah Nishigaki have spoken out about the harm that will come if these protections are rolled back by the Trump EPA.

Excerpts of testimony from the advocates noted above can be found below.

Jayne Black of Moms Clean Air Force: “Nearly 25 million people in the US have asthma, almost 8% of the overall population. My son is one of them who struggles to breathe every day and depends on his inhaler and nebulizer machine which have horrible side effects. The EPA must not repeal climate protection for power plants. The health and wellbeing of our families and communities are at stake – Not just my children, your children and our grandchildren. The consequences of putting our children’s health on the backburner will result in millions of dollars in healthcare costs and devastating premature deaths.”

Dr. Micah Nishigaki, a Texas doctor: “It’s frustrating trying to care for patients and help them live healthy lives but their care is hindered by the polluted planet we’re living on. No one is immune to the effects of climate change. Everyone of us is here at the front end of this damage whether it’s in our health, the foods we eat or the nature we were blessed with… With the increased health risks due to worsening climate change, it is imperative that we vitalize initiatives to protect our health and communities. Stronger regulations, not repeals, will help with these efforts. We have been running out of time for decades and are getting closer to irreversible damages for us and our loved ones.”

Yosef Robele from WE ACT for Environmental Justice: “The continued operation and expansion of these facilities [power plants] release numerous toxic pollutants in our communities that are linked to respiratory issues, reproductive issues and cancer. For our communities the operation of these facilities impact our ability to breathe, have children and have to ultimaley long healthy and safe lives as we head into an uncertain future.”

Patrice Tomcik of Moms Clean Air Force: “As a child…I missed a lot of school due to chronic bronchitis and now, as an adult, I have respiratory problems. I am concerned about what my children are breathing into their lungs. Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution because their bodies are still developing. I recognize I can’t control the air my son breathes, which is why I rely on the EPA to do their job and protect him from harmful pollution.”

Additional Information:

• Power plant carbon pollution standards were enacted in 2024 after over 1 million Americansweighed in supporting them. Alongside federal investments, they were projected to cut harmful pollution from the power sector by 75% below 2005 levels by 2035.
• MATS has already cut mercury pollution by 90% and reduced other dangerous pollutants that put our families and communities at risk.
• With 82% of voters supporting stricter limits on mercury and air toxics pollution from power plants, Zeldin is focused on accommodating a few big polluters instead of protecting the people, which will cost lives, raise costs, and harm public health.

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About the Climate Action Campaign
Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is a vibrant coalition driving ambitious, durable, equitable federal action to tackle the climate crisis. By cutting carbon pollution and accelerating the transition to clean energy, we will improve public health and create a more resilient economy and a more sustainable future for all.