Judge blocks Trump EPA studies rule

A federal judge has blocked a last-minute rule issued by the Trump administration to limit what evidence the Environmental Protection Agency may consider as it regulates pollutants to protect public health.

Former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the Jan. 6 rule was aimed at ending what he and other Republicans call “secret science.” Some industry and conservative groups had long pushed for the change, saying public health studies that hold confidential and potentially identifying data about test subjects should be made public so the underlying data can be scrutinized before the EPA issues rules aimed at protecting public health.

Mr. Wheeler called the rule an attempt to boost transparency about government decision-making, but critics said it was hastily imposed and would threaten patient confidentiality and the privacy of individuals in public health studies that underlie federal regulations.

U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Montana ruled Wednesday that the EPA had unlawfully rushed the regulation, saying its decision to make it final just two weeks before Donald Trump left office was “arbitrary” and “capricious.” Judge Morris delayed the rule until at least Feb. 5, giving the Biden administration time to assess it.

A spokesman said Friday the EPA is “committed to making evidence-based decisions and developing policies and programs that are guided by the best science.”