Trump Ends Biden Methane Rules at Texas Rally
President Donald Trump has announced he is terminating Biden-era rules limiting methane emissions from oil and gas operations, saying the move will save consumers and energy producers $45 billion. According to Fox News, he made the announcement on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at a rally in Lubbock, Texas, a week before the midterm elections. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/midterm-elections-2026-trump-texas-comey-october-27
What Trump said
The AP reports that Trump told the Lubbock rally for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton that he was “officially terminating Biden’s expensive and unnecessary methane regulations.” NBC News says he claimed Democrats had “crushed small oil and gas operators” with excessive regulation.
Fox News reports that he said the change would unlock large quantities of Texas natural gas and produce 210 million barrels of oil. The Guardian says that amount is equivalent to about 10 days of US petroleum consumption.
NBC News notes that Trump gave no further details, and that the rules he referred to were finalised by the Biden administration in 2024.
What the rules do and what the EPA planned
NBC News reports that the Environmental Protection Agency previewed changes this month, including looser rules on methane leaks at lower-production oil wells. The AP says EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said last month the changes would eliminate the agency’s Super Emitter Program, which requires companies to investigate and repair major methane releases from oil and gas facilities.
NBC describes methane as a potent greenhouse gas and the second-biggest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide.
Political context and criticism
The Guardian reports that the move is intended to encourage more domestic drilling as Trump faces criticism over high fuel prices linked to the US war in Iran. NBC News says fuel prices are playing a key role in the election.
According to the AP, the rule was projected to yield $98 billion in benefits by 2034. That figure was calculated using the future social costs of greenhouse gas emissions on public health and the environment, an approach Trump’s EPA has rejected. The Guardian says critics warn of climate danger, but the excerpt reviewed does not name them.
Background
Texas officials had also opposed the federal methane rules. Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian said in a January 2025 statement that the rule would hit small and independent producers hardest. A University of Texas paper from January 2025 noted that corporate commitments and investor pressure suggest many oil and gas companies would keep prioritising methane reductions.
Quick timeline:
- 2024: Biden administration finalises the methane rules, per NBC News.
- September 2026: Zeldin previews the Super Emitter Program changes, per the AP.
- October 27, 2026: Trump announces the termination at a Lubbock rally.
What happens next
The sources reviewed do not say what legal steps or timeline the EPA will use to formally end the rules. Readers should watch the EPA, the Federal Register and statements from environmental groups and industry bodies for confirmation and any legal challenges.
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