Congresswoman Tlaib joins MiCCA to oppose EPA rollbacks on PM2.5, disregard of "lives lost" in decision-making

The Trump Environmental Protection Agency is requesting the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacate the 2024 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on fine particulate matter (PM 2.5, also known as soot standards) by Feb. 7, 2026. 

Background: In 2024, the EPA set the level of the primary health-based annual PM2.5 standard at 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) to reflect new science on harms caused by particle pollution. Prior to the change, the PM2.5 standard was set at 12 micrograms per cubic meter.

Under the previous administration, the EPA estimated the stricter limit would result in (in 2032): 

• Significant public health net benefits that could be as high as $46 billion

• Health benefits will include up to 4,500 avoided premature deaths

• 800,000 avoided cases of asthma symptoms

• 290,000 avoided lost workdays

  
  

Until the court makes its decision, the 2024 PM 2.5 NAAQS are still in effect. 

In a press conference hosted by the Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action on Jan. 27, health professionals and advocates, along with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, condemned the EPA’s short-sighted actions that endanger the public’s health and wellbeing. 

“The Environmental Protection Agency has abandoned its mandate to protect human health and the environment,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “Trump’s Polluter Protection Agency is sacrificing our communities for the profits of his campaign donors. Rolling back the federal standards on PM2.5 is a direct attack on our health and quality of life, and I’m proud to join with environmental justice and public health advocates to educate our communities and fight back.”

“Given that Michigan is home to some of the worst rates of asthma in the country and wildfire smoke has increasingly become a common occurrence, we hope the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sees these attempted rollbacks for what they are: the EPA abandoning its stated mission to ‘protect human health and the environment’ in favor of polluter profits,” said Teresa Homsi, MPH, Executive Director, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action.

“Healthcare professionals are deeply committed to protecting public health,” said Kindra Weid, RN of Washtenaw County. “Weakening protections for soot pollution does not follow the science and demonstrates a departure from the EPA’s mission. The science has not changed. Stronger protections save lives.” 

“We are disappointed that current EPA leadership has tried to undermine these strong PM 2.5 standards. PM2.5 is smaller than the diameter of a human hair but packs a punch in terms of health impacts. We know that particle pollution kills thousands of people in the United States each year, and rollbacks of the 2024 standards would endanger communities - especially those near pollution sources like power plants or busy roads,” said Kezia Ofosu Atta, Director of Advocacy, American Lung Association Michigan. “In our State of the Air report from last year, Detroit received a grade of D for particle pollution, with the average number of unhealthy air days per year increasing from 5.8 days in the 2024 report to 8.5 days in the 2025 report.”

For media questions, contact Teresa at teresa@michigan.com.