Deregulating Oil and Gas: Trump's EPA Lowers Costs by Freeing American Producers
Source: "LEE ZELDIN: Trump is delivering cheaper energy by freeing American producers | Fox News." October 28, 2026. www.foxnews.com
The Gist
The author, who heads the EPA, says Biden-era oil and gas rules raised costs and threatened to shut down small wells, and that the Trump EPA's rollback will save money and increase supply. He argues that this means cheaper gas, heating, and groceries, without abandoning environmental protection.
Conclusion
Trump's EPA overhaul of Biden-era oil and gas rules, together with broader deregulation, will lower energy and consumer costs and benefit Americans without sacrificing environmental protection.
Premises
- Oil and gas costs feed into nearly everything Americans buy (fuel, heating, farm diesel, trucking), so higher production costs and lower supply raise prices across the economy.
- The 2024 Biden EPA rules imposed one-size-fits-all mandates that, by the EPA's own estimate, cost $18 billion (likely more) and raised natural gas prices, and would have shut down existing wells and blocked new ones.
- About 79% of U.S. oil and gas wells (roughly 783,000) are small, low-producing wells, many on family land, that the Biden rule would have forced to close.
- The Trump EPA's proposal tailors standards to well type, ends the 'super emitter' program, and restores a 95%-efficient flaring standard, which is projected to save $45 billion and unlock 210 million barrels of oil and 1.41 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
- Producers pass regulatory costs on to consumers, so lower costs at the well and greater supply translate into lower prices at the pump, on heating bills, and at the grocery store.
- The Trump EPA's wider deregulatory actions (a claimed $1.6 trillion in savings, repeal of the Endangerment Finding, DEF deratement fixes, Right to Repair) have lowered costs and show that environmental protection and economic growth can coexist.
Assumptions
- Projected regulatory cost savings and production gains will translate into actual lower consumer prices.
- Regulatory compliance costs are the main driver of current energy prices, relative to global markets, geopolitics, and demand.
- Looser methane and flaring standards will not cause environmental or health harms large enough to offset the economic benefits.
- The administration's cost-savings estimates are accurate and count the relevant costs and benefits, including health and climate impacts.
- Producers will respond to lower regulatory costs by increasing output and passing savings on to consumers.
- The 95% flaring standard satisfies the Clean Air Act and EPA's mission to protect health and the environment.