US Senate Committee Launches Investigation into Ford's Potential Lobbying in Trump's Climate Rollbacks
A US Senate committee has launched an investigation into whether Ford Motor Company lobbied for the rollback of a key climate regulation under the Trump administration. The probe, led by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island, is also looking into other companies and groups that may have influenced the White House to scrap the 2009 endangerment finding.
The finding, which was upheld twice by the Supreme Court, states that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health and welfare, allowing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to limit pollution from vehicles and industrial sources. However, in July, the EPA announced its intention to rescind the ruling, sparking concerns among scientists, environmental advocates, and public health experts.
The investigation into Ford comes after President Donald Trump claimed that the company's CEO, Jim Farley, has urged him to roll back green regulations. During a recent visit to a Ford factory in Michigan, Trump said that Farley often contacts him asking for help in getting rid of environmentally friendly rules. The president's comments were seen as an endorsement of the industry's efforts to undermine climate protections.
Senate Committee Chairman Whitehouse is seeking clarification from Ford on the company's role in advocating for the repeal of the endangerment finding. "Straight from Trump's own mouth, we hear him boasting about working hand in glove with industry to unleash unchecked pollution on our communities," Whitehouse said in a statement.
Ford has taken a mixed stance on climate regulations, pledging to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and publicly backing the Paris climate agreement. However, the company has also pushed against EPA rules, such as fuel economy standards. The company's membership in trade groups like the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has been seen as evidence of its opposition to environmental regulations.
The investigation is part of a broader effort by the Senate committee to examine the role of industry and lobby groups in shaping climate policy under the Trump administration. As the EPA finalizes its plan to rescind the endangerment finding, critics argue that it will have devastating consequences for public health and the environment.
A US Senate committee has launched an investigation into whether Ford Motor Company lobbied for the rollback of a key climate regulation under the Trump administration. The probe, led by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island, is also looking into other companies and groups that may have influenced the White House to scrap the 2009 endangerment finding.
The finding, which was upheld twice by the Supreme Court, states that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health and welfare, allowing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to limit pollution from vehicles and industrial sources. However, in July, the EPA announced its intention to rescind the ruling, sparking concerns among scientists, environmental advocates, and public health experts.
The investigation into Ford comes after President Donald Trump claimed that the company's CEO, Jim Farley, has urged him to roll back green regulations. During a recent visit to a Ford factory in Michigan, Trump said that Farley often contacts him asking for help in getting rid of environmentally friendly rules. The president's comments were seen as an endorsement of the industry's efforts to undermine climate protections.
Senate Committee Chairman Whitehouse is seeking clarification from Ford on the company's role in advocating for the repeal of the endangerment finding. "Straight from Trump's own mouth, we hear him boasting about working hand in glove with industry to unleash unchecked pollution on our communities," Whitehouse said in a statement.
Ford has taken a mixed stance on climate regulations, pledging to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and publicly backing the Paris climate agreement. However, the company has also pushed against EPA rules, such as fuel economy standards. The company's membership in trade groups like the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has been seen as evidence of its opposition to environmental regulations.
The investigation is part of a broader effort by the Senate committee to examine the role of industry and lobby groups in shaping climate policy under the Trump administration. As the EPA finalizes its plan to rescind the endangerment finding, critics argue that it will have devastating consequences for public health and the environment.
The fact that Ford is being investigated for lobbying against climate regulations shows how close the lines can get between politics and business when greed takes over. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that Ford was seen as a friend by Trump... 
this is getting crazy... I mean, you'd think that's just a normal thing for a president to do but here we go again with the lobbying, it's like what even is going on with these corporations? They're all in cahoots with politicians or something. Ford's got their foot in both camps now too, trying to save face while still making some noise about climate change 
But what really gets my goat is that the EPA just finalized its plan to rescind the endangerment finding, and scientists are already saying it'll have disastrous consequences for public health. I mean, come on! Do we need another study or something? The thing is, Ford has been all over the place when it comes to climate regulations - they're supposed to be reducing emissions, but they're also pushing against EPA rules... like what's up with that? 
Meanwhile, climate-related lobbying efforts for the same companies increased by 35% between 2019 and 2022! 
I mean, it's no secret that corporations have a significant influence on policy, but still - 40% of Americans think that politicians are more influenced by money than by public opinion. 
...and don't even get me started on the EPA, they're like our last hope for saving this planet 
...anyway, I'm glad someone is finally holding Ford accountable for their actions...it's about time we start taking these corps to task 
First of all, Ford's CEO Jim Farley supposedly gets all cozy with Trump, asking him to roll back climate rules... what a coincidence? 
And now, the Senate Committee comes along, just so happens to investigate whether Ford lobbied for these changes... it's like they're covering their own tracks! 
Meanwhile, we got big oil and other polluters trying to weaken regulations... this whole thing smells like a dirty deal. Don't even get me started on Trump's weird behavior - did he really just brag about working with industry to trash the environment? 
this is so weird, why is Ford, a major automaker, trying to undo something about climate change? isn't their whole thing making electric cars and reducing emissions? 
. Companies love to claim they're all about reducing emissions, but then they flip-flop as soon as it's inconvenient for them. Ford's stance on climate regulations is super mixed, so I'm not sure what to make of it 
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. If true, that's a huge conflict of interest and some serious ethics issues there. Senate Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse is on the money with his "straight from Trump's own mouth" comment 
. This whole thing is definitely keeping me glued to my screen 
. I'm not saying Ford is a bad company or anything, but the fact that they're profiting from their own emissions is just plain weird 
. This whole thing is just too suspicious for me 
so they got an investigation into whether or not ford was behind some kinda lobbying to roll back climate regulations under trump... meanwhile, trump himself is out there saying that ford's CEO has been asking him for help getting rid of green rules. it just doesnt add up you know? 
I'm not surprised to hear this, companies like Ford have been trying to weasel their way out of taking responsibility for their carbon footprint for years. They're always saying they care about the environment but really they just want to save a buck 
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. And now we're seeing the consequences of corporate influence on policy 
. We need more accountability from big industry when it comes to climate change 
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they're trying to roll back protections that can actually make a difference, you know? The EPA finding is all about public health and welfare, but Trump's team is just pushing the interests of the auto industry... it's like, what about our air quality? 
. The thing is, if the Senate committee finds out that Ford did indeed lobby against those climate regulations, it's going to be a big deal. I mean, we all know how much money the auto industry can make from polluting our air and water. It's not like they're just worried about their bottom line... 
can't let big corps just undermine climate protections like that