Much of America relies heavily on oil and gas. Think about it: it powers your cars and heats your homes. It’s the diesel that runs the machinery to produce food and, of course, the trucks that deliver everything to your grocery stores. When production costs spike and the supply diminishes, it tends to hit your wallet—hard.
This is precisely why President Trump and I visited Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday to unveil what we believe is a significant step in addressing one of the Biden administration’s most costly blunders. The EPA’s new proposal aims to revamp the oil and natural gas regulations from the Biden era, potentially saving Americans around $45 billion. It’s also projected to unleash about 210 million additional barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Back in 2024, the Biden EPA imposed broad mandates on oil and gas companies, affecting everyone from major corporations to families with a single well. According to their estimates, these regulations could cost up to $18 billion and elevate natural gas prices. But even that estimate seems too optimistic. More concerning was the EPA’s refusal to acknowledge what producers repeatedly warned: these rules would lead to the closure of existing wells and prevent new ones from being developed.
THE IRAN WAR DIDN’T MAKE YOUR HEATING BILL THIS HIGH. BLUE-STATE ENERGY POLICY DID
These costs aren’t absorbed by producers; they trickle down to you. You feel it at the gas station, on your heating bills, and at the checkout counter. If farmers face higher diesel costs, they obviously have to pass those costs onto consumers.
One group especially impacted has been the owners of marginal wells in America. Approximately 783,000 oil and gas wells—around 79%—are small, low-output wells, often situated on family land. Many families rely on these for heating, farming, and even their retirement plans. The Biden regulations would have forced a significant number of these wells to shut down.
BIDEN-ERA ENVIRONMENTAL RULE ACCUSED OF STRANGLING TRUCKERS, SQUEEZING AMERICANS, LANDS ON TRUMP’S CHOPPING BLOCK
Our new proposal aims to rectify this situation. We plan to establish distinct, workable standards for various types of well sites, ensuring that a small family well isn’t treated the same way as a large operation. We also intend to eliminate the so-called super emitter program, which has proven unnecessary and ineffective while relying on shaky legal foundations. For the natural gas produced alongside oil, we want to reinstate a sensible standard that allows for 95% efficient flaring or other controls, rather than requiring every ounce to reach a sales line that simply doesn’t exist in many production areas.
It’s crucial to note that protecting human health and the environment remains a priority for the EPA, and that won’t be changing. The Clean Air Act mandates that achievable standards are set. While the Biden EPA pushed “zero emissions” goals, they overlooked existing regulations that already required significant reductions. Unfortunately, they seemed to fill their rules with exemptions that ignored the gap.
TRUMP’S EPA REFORMS ARE A HUGE BOOST TO MANUFACTURERS, BUT THERE’S MORE RED TAPE TO CUT: EXPERT
We’re drafting rules that reflect reality, and we’re eager to gather feedback from the states and operators who understand these dynamics best.
Beyond our announcement from Tuesday, the Trump EPA has celebrated a series of wins that have resonated positively throughout the country—Texas included. Over the past year, the agency has enacted $1.6 trillion in deregulatory savings, an unprecedented move that’s not only fostering consumer choice but also reducing costs for vehicles, energy, food, and more. This shows that it is indeed possible to safeguard the environment while also stimulating economic growth.
The repeal of the 2009 Obama-era Endangerment Finding alone yielded $1.3 trillion in savings, making vehicles more affordable and eliminating the federal push behind the often-disliked start/stop feature that stalled engines at every red light. This stands in stark contrast to the $1.3 trillion in unnecessary regulations imposed by the Biden EPA on American families and the broader economy.
The Trump EPA has also taken steps to reverse Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) deratements that have left many farmers and truckers in a difficult spot. Companies like John Deere have adapted their major models to align with EPA standards for the fall 2026 harvest. Furthermore, the agency is close to finalizing a new deregulatory plan that would remove all DEF deratement mandates for new vehicles and non-road equipment. In continuation of this effort, the EPA has ensured Americans can repair their own tractors and non-road equipment under the Clean Air Act and has progressed in advancing their Freedom to Fix initiative, as outlined in President Trump’s directive.
The arithmetic is straightforward. When American producers are allowed to operate freely, America benefits through reduced gas and diesel prices, lower heating expenses, reduced grocery bills, and the creation of well-paying energy jobs. Lower costs at the source, combined with increased energy supply, ultimately means more money in your pocket.
President Trump made a commitment to end the war on American energy, and this proposal is yet another promise fulfilled.
