{"id":2572164,"date":"2026-02-21T07:30:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gunasekara-how-trump-epa-upending-climate-scam-revives-us-industry\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T07:33:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:33:49","slug":"gunasekara-how-trump-epa-upending-climate-scam-revives-us-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gunasekara-how-trump-epa-upending-climate-scam-revives-us-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Gunasekara: How Trump EPA Upending Climate Scam Revives US Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgunasekara-how-trump-epa-upending-climate-scam-revives-us-industry%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2572164&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>This opinion piece argues for repealing the EPA\u2019s Endangerment Finding and rolling back greenhouse gas regulations tied to it. Written by Mandy Gunasekara, a former EPA chief of staff under Trump, it contends the Finding was a political pretext used to regulate CO2 emissions from vehicles and engines. <\/p>\n<p>Key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Repealing the Finding would restore scientific integrity, reduce regulatory overreach, and save households up to about $54 billion annually over 30 years.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The author claims the EV mandate is effectively dead and regulatory policy should focus on practical energy production (coal, oil, natural gas) rather than aggressive mandates.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The piece argues that climate data since 2009 are uncertain and that recent assessments (including a Energy Department report led by Steven Koonin) challenge what it calls climate alarmism.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; It asserts the EPA should concentrate on its core mission\u2014clean air, clean water, and legacy pollution\u2014while noting legal shifts, such as Supreme Court decisions on administrative deference, that could constrain broad regulatory actions.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The article suggests foreign interests have funded climate activism and warns of ongoing litigation, while presenting the repeal as a path to economic growth and American reindustrialization.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; It closes with Disclaimers that the views are those of the author and not the publisher, and includes standard publication notes.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Team Trump sealed the Super Bowl win of deregulatory actions by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/trump-to-repeal-landmark-climate-finding-in-huge-regulatory-rollback-ff7d58db?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfmkX0wpZ_ujGTfCvLMUWK_oEycnieIljax3A5GrdtLr4Fzaqtz6XrBUd3EhuE%3D&amp;gaa_ts=698aa2c1&amp;gaa_sig=KQBABJmOOuk-HsYkkvFMtCNcoXVg9lmEd4iUIcuAxq9yQZaY3xqH3g39pV_Oyj8c7xodjikogLwF1aoqwa-PBQ%3D%3D\">finalizing<\/a> the repeal of the &ldquo;Endangerment Finding.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ridding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of this <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/chris_c_horner\/status\/2021059132393128364?s=42\">political document<\/a> is a win for scientific truth, technical reality, and American&rsquo;s pocketbooks. It will also boost President Donald Trump&rsquo;s reindustrialization plans and usher in a promised win for jobseekers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and rural America.<\/p>\n<p>For too long, the Endangerment Finding served as the legal pretext for bureaucratic hacks to meddle in every corner of our economy. Enacted during the Obama era, it provided the statutory hook under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/clean-air-act-overview\/clean-air-act-title-ii-emission-standards-moving-sources-parts-through-c\">Section 202 of the Clean Air Act<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-epa-decision-met-with-mixed-reactions\/\" title=\"Supreme Court EPA decision met with mixed reactions\">regulate greenhouse gas emissions<\/a> from motor vehicles and engines.<\/p>\n<p>EPA rightfully found that the agency lacks authority to impose such standards, effectively nullifying all greenhouse gas emission rules for light-duty and medium-duty cars, as well as heavy-duty trucks. In effect, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/unleashing-american-energy\/\">EV Mandate is dead<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The financial stakes are staggering. Rescinding the Finding and eliminating these standards will save Americans up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/newsreleases\/epa-releases-proposal-rescind-obama-era-endangerment-finding-regulations-paved-way\">$54 billion annually<\/a> over the next 30 years. That&rsquo;s real money flowing back into households, reducing the cost of living for everything from groceries to gasoline.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container=document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!container) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=\"https:\/\/player.anyclip.com\/anyclip-widget\/lre-widget\/prod\/v1\/src\/lre.js\"; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"pubname\", \"westernjournalcom\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"widgetname\", \"001w000001jULVcAAO_M12924\");  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ append inside the container so player shows in correct spot \t\t\t\t\t\tcontainer.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadAnyclip(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #anyclipvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#anyclipvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Trucks deliver nearly every product we buy, and easing regulations on them <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-transportation-committee-chairman-warns-china-could-weaponize-dominance-over-shipping\/\" title=\"Former Transportation Committee Chairman Warns China Could \u2018Weaponize\u2019 Dominance Over Shipping\">means lower prices<\/a> across the board. This action reinstates consumer choice, empowering families to select vehicles that work for them &mdash; whether it&rsquo;s a reliable pickup for the farm or an SUV for the suburbs. No more forcing dealers to stockpile <a href=\"https:\/\/fordauthority.com\/2026\/02\/american-car-dealers-say-ev-investments-werent-worth-it\/\">unsellable EVs<\/a> while ignoring what the market demands.<\/p>\n<p>But this isn&rsquo;t just about legality or economics; it&rsquo;s also about reclaiming scientific integrity from the clutches of politicized junk science.<\/p>\n<p>The last comprehensive review of climate data for regulatory purposes was in 2009 &mdash; a lifetime ago in scientific terms. Since then, mountains of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heritage.org\/cooling-the-climate-hysteria\">new data<\/a> have emerged, scrutinized by experts, not just the left&rsquo;s hand-picked activists. From the accuracy of thermometer records to trends in precipitation and causes of sea level rise, reduced uncertainties paint a clear picture: There is no looming climate crisis justifying these expansive regulations.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Energy Department recently published a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/articles\/department-energy-issues-report-evaluating-impact-greenhouse-gasses-us-climate-invites\">comprehensive report<\/a> digging into these scientific questions and uncertainties. One of the chief authors included Steven Koonin, a scientist who led the Energy Department under the Obama administration. He recently <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/isaacforenergy\/status\/2019566807464518015?s=10\">chastised<\/a> the climate science community for not accurately representing the situation, noting &ldquo;the climate crisis was exaggerated with the consequence of society running down a rabbit hole of rapid decarbonization.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The EPA meticulously reviewed thousands of public comments on these developments, building a rock-solid scientific, technical, and legal foundation for this repeal. Critics will howl that this move abandons environmental responsibility, but nothing could be further from the truth.<\/p>\n<p>Rescinding the Endangerment Finding frees the EPA to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/newsreleases\/epa-delivers-500-environmental-wins-during-president-trumps-first-year-back-white\">focus<\/a> on its core mission: helping the states achieve tangible progress in clean air, clean water, and addressing legacy pollution. This approach will have an immediate, beneficial impact to public health and the environment. More broadly, technological innovations, not draconian mandates, have driven efficiencies in our energy systems. Focusing on this reality will continue to advance environmental goals without bankrupting the country.<\/p>\n<p>Repealing the Endangerment Finding also aligns with recent legal shifts. The Supreme Court&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/23pdf\/22-451_7m58.pdf\">rollback<\/a> of broad agency deference means the EV mandate and similar overreaches no longer pass muster.<\/p>\n<p>The EPA does not have the legal authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. If Congress had, they would have been very clear in giving that direction, as they are not known for &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/531\/457\/\">hiding elephants in mouseholes<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Many influential people built their reputations and businesses off the climate hysteria. Some of the biggest beneficiaries of this scheme were Democrat-aligned investors who relied on the government to force the use of unreliable, expensive technologies no one wanted. More sinister, other beneficiaries included <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epw.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/2015\/9\/inhofe-statement-on-china-s-climate-announcement\">China<\/a> and Russia &mdash; countries that stood ready to reap financial and geopolitical wins from the U.S. committing economic suicide in the name of climate activism.<\/p>\n<p>Recent <a href=\"https:\/\/americansforpublictrust.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/APT_Foreign-Charities-Funding-Extreme-Policies-Report-1.pdf\">reports<\/a> found these foreign adversaries are some of the largest funders of climate activism in the U.S. As such, the fight is not over and will undoubtedly end up in court. But the administration is well prepared for this looming legal fight.<\/p>\n<p>By dismantling the Endangerment Finding, Trump is not just <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >rolling back red tape<\/a>; he&rsquo;s reigniting the engine of American prosperity that still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/energyexplained\/us-energy-facts\/\">runs on coal, oil, and natural gas<\/a>. Ignore the aptly named &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IBbBMVZHHSw\">prophets of doom<\/a>&rdquo; and know that this action is not an assault on the environment &mdash; it&rsquo;s a restoration of reality.<\/p>\n<p><em>Mandy Gunasekara is an environmental attorney and served as the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in President Trump&rsquo;s first term. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p><em>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter&rsquo;s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><i><b>The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either d or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/submitop-ed\/\">here<\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here is a paraphrase of the main ideas from the provided text (focusing on the written argument and excluding embedded code and site widgets):<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Trump team argues that by repealing the Endangerment Finding, they have completed a key step in deregulation. Removing what they view as a political justification for broad EPA controls is said to promote scientific honesty, reflect real-world conditions, and protect Americans\u2019 finances. The move is portrayed as helping Trump\u2019s plan to revitalize industry and create jobs in places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and rural areas.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Endangerment Finding, enacted during the Obama era, allegedly gave the EPA authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and engines. The authors claim the EPA exceeded its legal power and that removing the Finding shuts down extensive greenhouse gas rules for cars and trucks. They present this as eliminating what they call an EV mandate and argue it could save Americans up to $54 billion per year over 30 years, reducing living costs from groceries to fuel.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The piece contends that the regulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is outside the EPA\u2019s legal authority. It argues that Congress would have been explicit if such authority were intended, and contends that climate alarmism has benefited certain political and financial interests, including some foreign adversaries. The article asserts that the fight over these issues will likely go to court, but asserts the administration is prepared.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Proponents claim the Endangerment Finding harmed environmental progress by diverting efforts from actual state-led clean air, clean water, and legacy-pollution work. They argue that deregulation will not abandon environmental goals; rather, it will focus on practical advances and technological improvements that improve efficiency without harming the economy. The text suggests that recent legal and scientific assessments have questioned the necessity and accuracy of extensive climate regulations, citing a 2009 benchmark and later analyses.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The repeal is presented as restoring scientific integrity and economic vitality, aligning with a broader shift away from broad agency deference and overreach. Advocates say it will enable more effective, targeted environmental action by states and reduce the burden of costly, unpopular mandates that hinder growth.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The piece closes with Disclaimers about authorship and publication, reiterating that the views expressed are those of the author and not official positions, and noting editorial and licensing details<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2572165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-02-16T065404.630.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[73477,74263,74260,74261,74262],"class_list":["post-2572164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-climate-policy-2","tag-economic-impact-2","tag-gunasekara","tag-trump-epa","tag-us-industry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-02-16T065404.630.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2572164"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2572168,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572164\/revisions\/2572168"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2572165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2572164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2572164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2572164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}