The New York Times reports that, since 1965, the federal government has taken steps to protect people from the risks associated with global warming. The Trump administration and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin appear to be abandoning this approach, instead shifting responsibility to states and individuals.

Zeldin in recent days proposed to repeal the 2009 scientific finding enabling federal regulation of greenhouse gases. The EPA would also end Biden-era automobile regulations designed to reduce emissions. This follows other changes that include Trump’s proposal to stop collecting key greenhouse gas measurements; his calls to overhaul FEMA in favor of state-level entities; and other policy changes, like recent cuts to food stamps and USAID.

“It’s never been the role of government to completely take care of people,” said Sarah Pralle, associate professor of political science. “But this conservative, anti-regulatory, anti-welfare-state ideology all comes together in kind of shifting risks back to individuals.”

Read more in the New York Times, " How Trump Is Transforming the U.S. Government’s Environmental Role."