11.19.25

Ranking Member Huffman Calls Out Trump for Putting Polluters Over Public Health

Compliance delay for Big Oil is the latest decision in Republicans’ string of polluter handouts

Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member Huffman released a statement on the Trump administration’s announcement to push back the compliance deadline for the Methane Waste Rule, clearing the way for polluters to ignore regulations and avoid paying royalties to public and Indian mineral owners.

“Their first week back after the longest shutdown in American history, Republicans haven’t done a single thing to lower costs or improve the lives of hardworking people. Instead, they’ve prioritized rolling out the red carpet for their billionaire donors,” said Ranking Member Huffman. “Trump is shirking the law and robbing taxpayers blind so Big Oil can keep pumping out emissions without having to pay a cent for polluting our air.

“It has been proven time and again that this pollution gives our kids asthma, spikes cancer rates, and causes miscarriages. Health care prices are about to skyrocket, but instead of solving this Republican-caused crisis, they are clearing the way for corporations to keep poisoning our communities just to pad their pockets.

“Meanwhile, the rest of the world is meeting at COP to work together on curbing this exact kind of pollution to address climate change – but Trump couldn’t be bothered to show up for America. He’s surrendering to China and driving our allies straight into Xi Jinping’s arms to partner with him instead on clean, cheap energy that addresses the climate crisis. Rolling back these safeguards is a complete abdication of our responsibilities and climate leadership on the global stage. This has got to stop. Americans want clean air and clean water––not handouts to polluters.”

Background

The Bureau of Land Management announced it is pushing back deadlines for oil and gas companies to comply with the Methane Waste Rule, which tightened rules on the venting and flaring of methane from oil and gas production on federal lands.

The rule would have charged oil companies royalties for the methane their operations produce but don’t deliver to market as natural gas to compensate public and Indian mineral owners.

BLM will delay enforcement by one year for two of the rule's provisions that were scheduled to take effect on Dec. 10.

This decision is the latest in a string of attacks on the environment and public health by Republicans. On Monday, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers announced their proposed revision of the Waters of the United States, which would further restrict which water bodies are protected from pollution and destruction under the Clean Water Act. This will let polluters dump in and destroy more waters all across the country.

On Tuesday, House Republicans voted to overturn a series of federal land protections to lock the American people into higher energy costs by sabotaging clean, renewable energy to prop up polluters. The three Congressional Review Acts will handcuff the Department of the Interior, making it illegal for the agency to stop prioritizing fossil fuels -- even to protect communities from climate-induced wildfires, save collapsing habitats, or combat prolonged drought.

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Press Contact

Mary Hurrell (Huffman)
(202) 225-5187