The Trump administration is reducing the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program, which promotes energy-efficient home appliances, according to an agency insider who spoke to Hill on Tuesday.
During a staff meeting on Monday, it was conveyed that the Energy Star program would be phased out, specifically within the Climate Protection Partnership division.
Additionally, staff learned that the EPA is scaling back its initiatives related to climate change, including the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which mandates that major polluters disclose their emissions contributing to global warming.
This information was initially reported by CNN.
On Friday, the EPA issued a statement about a significant reorganization effort.
“This action aims to enhance the HR structure to better support the core missions of the agency while benefiting the American people and contributing to a renewed national focus,” an EPA spokesperson mentioned via email.
This announcement follows previous indications from the Trump administration in its budget proposal about cuts to the office responsible for atmospheric protection, which includes the Energy Star and Greenhouse Gas Reporting programs.
The White House has been making staffing cuts across various departments, with a pronounced focus on climate change, a topic President Trump has often minimized.
While the president has voiced concern over increasing energy efficiency in appliances, his remarks have largely targeted regulations rather than programs like Energy Star, which operates as a voluntary partnership.
The Energy Star program enables businesses that comply with energy efficiency standards to display the Energy Star logo, signaling to consumers that their products are officially recognized for their efficiency.
The move to eliminate such programs has faced significant resistance.
“If the goal is to increase family energy bills, dropping the Energy Star label certainly seems like a step in that direction,” said Stephen Naddell, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
“This decision will strip consumers of vital information they need to make cost-effective choices,” he added.
In March, various appliance manufacturers and trade organizations also reached out to the administration, expressing that they were concerned about potential reductions that could hinder consumer choice among a variety of appliances.
