The Trump Administration is proceeding with an extensive overhaul of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even impacting some of the agency’s most broadly endorsed and cost-efficient environmental initiatives. Among the recent losses is the Energy Star program, a bipartisan effort celebrated for promoting energy-efficient appliances.

Reports from CNN and The Washington Post indicate that the announcement to terminate Energy Star was made during a recent all-staff meeting at the EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Protection. The program’s discontinuation is part of wider endeavors to reduce the agency’s size and reorganize its internal structure.

Initiated in 1992, Energy Star was a collaborative effort between the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. It granted energy efficiency certifications for appliances, aiding consumers in identifying products that complied with federal standards. Additionally, the program provided tax incentives and rebates to promote the purchase of environmentally friendly appliances. Over time, Energy Star has become a recognizable label in American homes and, according to its own assessments, has saved consumers nearly $500 billion in energy expenses.

In spite of its popularity and demonstrated effectiveness, Energy Star has consistently been targeted by the Trump Administration. During his first term, President Trump sought to eliminate the program’s $50 million budget, leading to a backlash from more than 1,000 companies that advocated for its retention. This recent action represents the administration’s second effort to dismantle the initiative.

The move is in line with the administration’s sweeping strategy to reverse energy efficiency standards. A notable instance of this is the executive order named “Make America’s Showers Great Again,” which rolled back Obama-era regulations for water-efficient showerheads and criticized the prior administration’s environmental initiatives.

The timing of the Energy Star program’s cancellation also aligns with increasing costs for imported appliances, as the Trump Administration maintains high tariffs amid persistent trade disputes with China. Consequently, consumers are rushing to acquire major items before prices escalate further.

As the EPA undergoes this major change, the fate of other long-standing environmental initiatives remains in question.