President Donald Trump on Thursday, 21 May announced the rollback of two Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations governing refrigerants and commercial cooling systems, claiming the move would save Americans more than $2.4 billion annually, lower grocery prices, and protect hundreds of thousands of jobs. The announcement was made at an Oval Office event attended by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and executives from major grocery retail chains.

What the Rollback Covers

The regulations being reversed include the Biden administration's 'technology transition rule', which required businesses to adopt newer refrigerants and replace large-scale cooling systems across supermarkets, restaurants, and transport fleets. Trump characterised the previous rules as 'ridiculous, unnecessary and costly', arguing they had forced businesses into expensive capital overhauls with no commensurate benefit.

'Many grocery stores and restaurants had no choice but to replace their refrigerators entirely,' Trump said. 'They went out of business, half of them. And these costs rose; Americans faced higher grocery prices and reduced access to critical medical supplies.'

What the Administration Claims

Trump asserted the rollback would 'deliver significant financial relief, saving American families and businesses more than $2.4 billion each year', while also reducing transportation costs and cutting air-conditioning expenses. He further claimed the newer equipment mandated under the Biden rules was 'inferior' and 'doesn't cool the food properly', dismissing environmental concerns outright. 'There is no environmental concern,' Trump said. 'It's not going to have any impact on the environment.'

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin echoed those claims, saying the Trump administration was reversing what he described as a 'rushed, frantic, reckless sprint' by the previous administration to phase out existing refrigeration infrastructure. Zeldin claimed the changes would safeguard 350,000 jobs and save supermarkets alone nearly $800 million.

Industry Voices Back the Move

Kroger CEO Greg Foran said an 'orderly transition' in equipment standards would help supermarkets avoid major capital costs and keep food prices lower for consumers. Kevin McDaniel, a Piggly Wiggly franchise owner operating stores across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, said replacing refrigeration systems could cost between $800,000 and $1.5 million per store. 'You would have seen grocery prices soar,' he said.

AI Executive Order Also Delayed

During a question-and-answer session at the same event, Trump confirmed he had postponed signing a planned executive order on artificial intelligence. 'I didn't like certain aspects of it, I postponed it,' he said, adding that he did not want to do anything that would jeopardise the United States' lead over China in AI development. Trump said the AI sector was generating 'tremendous numbers of jobs'.

What Comes Next

Environmental groups and climate policy advocates are expected to challenge the rollbacks, as the Biden-era refrigerant rules were aligned with international commitments under the Kigali Amendment to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases. The administration has not detailed a timeline for the formal regulatory reversal process, which typically requires a notice-and-comment period under US administrative law.