Trump's EPA reforms are a huge boost to manufacturers, but there's more red tape to cut: expert

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The Trump administration's move to eliminate a swath of Biden-era power plant emissions standards will be a game changer for the U.S. economy, National Association of Manufacturers CEO Jay Timmons tells Fox News Digital.

Timmons hailed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for the move announced this week, but noted that even more red tape remains to be cut.

"It really sent a signal to manufacturers that the administration was listening to our concerns," Timmons said of the cuts to power plant emissions standards.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin speaks alongside President Donald Trump during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Feb. 12, 2026, announcing the administration’s rollback of the 2009 Endangerment Finding, the scientific determination that underpins federal regulation of climate-warming emissions. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

He said NAM and other groups had objected to former President Joe Biden's 2024 standards "very, very clearly" at the time, saying the standards were "simply unworkable."

"The timeline that they had proposed was just, it wasn't feasible. Not that the aspirations for, you know, for cleaner air and a healthier environment aren't good aspirations. I think we all share that. I know the current EPA and Administrator Zeldin certainly share those objectives, but how you get there really matters and whether manufacturers are able to meet the challenge," he said, noting, however, that the Biden administration had heard their concerns, but simply disagreed.

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Energy plants like this West Virginia-based coal-fired power station, left, designed to generate electricity, are under strain with the growing needs of the U.S. power grid. It's prompting Congress to work toward permitting reform. (Getty Images)

The emissions regulations cut this week were removed by executive fiat, but Timmons says more lasting change must come through Congress as manufacturers hope to avoid regulatory whiplash between administrations.

"Uncertainty is the absolute worst enemy for manufacturers because manufacturers are on a very long-term horizon when it comes to planning and strategy, product development, research development, so when administrations change, there has often been kind of that pendulum swing," Timmons said.

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One area he said could use further reform is in permitting. NAM polling found that 80% of manufacturers say the length and complexity of the permitting process is harmful to increasing investment.

As much as 87% of manufacturers told NAM they would expand business operations, hire more workers or increase wages and benefits if the permitting process were more streamlined.

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US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, House Speaker Mike Johnson and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin watch as US President Donald Trump sign an executive order directing the military to purchase electricity from coal-fired power plants during a "Champion of Coal" event at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 11, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Timmons said it is critical for Congress to hear directly from manufacturers when drafting legislation, however.

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"There needs to be more opportunities for business to be at the table. To really explain what the art of the possible is. No one is saying that we should not be working hard to achieve cleaner air, cleaner water, healthier communities. In fact, we're saying exactly that. We should be part of the solution to make that happen," he said.