Tell the EPA: No Backsliding on Clean Air and Climate

The Trump Administration just announced it will abandon a critical rule that strengthened limits on deadly fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) — a move scientists warn will lead to dirtier air, more asthma attacks, more heart and lung disease, and thousands of preventable deaths. We cannot let this stand.

Fine-particle pollution comes mainly from dirty energy sources such as refineries and power plants, as well as from gas-powered cars and trucks. These same sources are among the biggest drivers of climate change — meaning this dangerous rollback doesn’t just threaten our lungs, but also slows crucial progress toward a safer climate.

PM2.5 pollution is so tiny — about one-thirtieth the width of a human hair — that it can pass through our lungs and into our bloodstream. Once inside the body, it can trigger asthma attacks, worsen respiratory illness, and even cause heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer. That’s why the Biden Administration strengthened the national PM2.5 standard from 12.0 to 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter — a change the EPA estimated would prevent 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays by 2032. 

But instead of defending these life-saving protections, the Trump EPA is walking away from them — not because the science changed, but because polluting industries complained about the costs. The administration is now siding with oil refineries, fossil fuel power plants, and manufacturing lobbyists who want to continue emitting harmful soot at the expense of public health.

This decision will hit disadvantaged communities hardest, especially neighborhoods already burdened by nearby freeways, heavy truck traffic, and fossil fuel facilities. These communities will face even dirtier air and higher health risks — all so big polluters can avoid updating their equipment or reducing emissions.

We cannot allow the Trump Administration to erase science-based protections and put lives at risk. Tell the EPA: Reinstate the stronger PM2.5 standards and protect our health, our climate, and our communities.

Please add your name today.
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Source

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/11/25/pm25-air-pollution-rule-trump-epa/