OPINION:
One of the most consequential decisions the Trump administration is about to make is flying under the radar. Although it may not have the same flash as the upcoming tax cuts, revising the particulate matter standard at the Environmental Protection Agency will have a greater positive impact on the economy than nearly any other action being discussed. In fact, if the standard is not revised, many of the hundreds of billions of dollars of investments and tens of thousands of new American jobs that President Trump has announced will be at risk because of the inability to receive the necessary permits.
Last year, despite significant evidence that it could harm the economy and manufacturing, the Biden administration tightened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (PM NAAQS or PM2.5) to a nearly unachievable level (from 12 µg/m3 to 9 µg/m3). The PM2.5 standard regulates microscopic particles in the air and is used for state permitting decisions. When the standard was tightened, America’s standard was already among the most stringent globally. A significantly tightened standard will be tough to achieve, as the EPA has stated that approximately 73% of PM2.5 emissions come from fires, road dust and agriculture, sources that are difficult and costly to control. According to the EPA, only 5% of PM2.5 emissions come from industrial processes, yet manufacturers are set to bear a heavy burden for this costly regulation.
During the first Trump administration, the EPA examined the PM2.5 standard, which is required every five years under the Clean Air Act. It was determined that the existing standard of 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air protected human health. The EPA’s decision during the first Trump administration was based on the best available science regarding potential health impacts.
Less than a year after the agency determined that the standard was protective, the Biden administration announced an unprecedented and premature reconsideration of the PM2.5 standard. Nearly 80 trade association CEOs representing virtually the entire economy sent a letter to President Biden’s chief of staff warning him of the severe economic consequences. They cautioned that nearly 40% of the U.S. population could soon live in areas of non-attainment, meaning nothing new could be permitted for construction. Still, the Biden administration ignored the potentially dramatic economic impacts.
When the Obama administration considered a similar early reconsideration, it decided not to finalize a new standard because “finalizing a new standard now is not mandatory and could produce needless uncertainty.” Although economic considerations are not allowed during the statutory consideration of the PM2.5 standard, the Obama administration cited regulatory costs and burdens as reasons for additional scrutiny in the decision not to move forward with a prematurely revised standard.
Despite warnings to the contrary, the Biden administration finalized a revised PM2.5 level that set the standard close to naturally occurring background levels.
The clock is ticking on this regulation, leading the Trump administration to tackle it on an expedited time frame. The results from the process to determine whether certain areas of the country can meet the revised PM2.5 standard are due in April 2026. If the EPA cannot finalize a new standard or legally roll back the existing standard by that deadline, the law “locks in” the revised and nearly unachievable standard through anti-backsliding procedures. That would mean there could be no new permitting for manufacturing or new manufacturing jobs for much of the country.
The Trump administration is setting the table for a manufacturing renaissance. Its industrial policy is rightly focused on renewing the historic tax cuts and tariffs to drive more manufacturing to America. However, without revising the dangerous PM2.5 standard, much of that progress is at risk, as there would be few places in the country that would be far enough under the standard to allow for the construction of new manufacturing facilities. The EPA has prioritized fixing this flawed PM2.5 standard and creating one that protects human health and our economy, and it is right to do so.
• Brandon Farris is vice president of government affairs for the Steel Manufacturers Association.
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