Summary:
- Pipeline safety oversight in the U.S. has declined to its lowest level in 20 years amid broader deregulation during President Donald Trump’s second term.
- PHMSA initiated only 46 enforcement cases in early 2025, the fewest in any comparable period since 2002.
- Policy changes and review of existing cases were cited as reasons for reduced enforcement.
- Critics are concerned that ongoing deregulation compromises public safety.
- PHMSA is reviewing hazardous materials and pipeline safety regulations, with potential rollbacks signaled through feedback solicitation.
- Trump’s budget proposes large environmental and public safety cuts, including a 54% funding reduction for the Environmental Protection Agency.
- The cuts raise alarms for communities near pipelines about regulatory effectiveness.
Pipeline safety oversight in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in two decades, prompting questions about regulatory vigilance amid broader deregulatory shifts during President Donald Trump’s second term. Federal records show enforcement activity by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) dropped sharply in early 2025, coinciding with ongoing policy reforms and significant cuts to environmental programs.
Between January and June of this year, PHMSA initiated only 46 enforcement cases—fewer than during any semiannual period since the agency began keeping comparable records in 2002. A spokesperson for the agency attributed the decline to internal policy changes that took effect during the second quarter, temporarily pausing new case initiations while existing cases were reviewed and, in some instances, closed.
“Of course we remain committed to public safety,” the spokesperson said. “The recent slowdown reflects a deliberate transition in regulatory approach, not an abandonment of oversight.”
Still, for some observers, the slowdown raises red flags. Paul Roberti, the industry attorney nominated by President Trump to lead PHMSA, acknowledged the enforcement figures during his Senate confirmation hearing on July 17. “We are looking to strike the right balance—maintaining safety while ensuring American energy continues to thrive,” Roberti told lawmakers, adding that his priorities include updating safety standards and streamlining enforcement where appropriate.
That balance, however, is at the heart of the debate. Critics point not only to the enforcement trend, but to a broader pattern of deregulatory initiatives unfolding across federal agencies.
PHMSA is currently soliciting feedback from industry and the public on changes to its hazardous materials regulations, a move some experts view as a precursor to loosening key safeguards. The review, formally opened in June, invites proposals to repeal or revise requirements deemed “unduly burdensome” to energy developers. A parallel review of pipeline safety rules is also underway.
According to PHMSA officials, these processes are routine, designed to “modernize regulation without compromising protection.” But the timing has drawn scrutiny.
“There’s a difference between reducing red tape and removing important safety checks,” said one former agency official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to ongoing consultancy work with pipeline operators. “The concern is whether the pendulum is swinging too far.”
The anxieties are not limited to PHMSA. President Trump’s most recent budget proposal includes sweeping cuts across multiple environmental and public safety agencies, most notably a 54 percent reduction in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. Programs supporting clean water infrastructure and environmental health research faced some of the steepest proposed reductions, including a 90 percent cut to state revolving loan funds for water systems.
The National Weather Service, meanwhile, has reported staffing shortfalls in nearly half of its field offices, with around 20 percent of positions unfilled nationwide. Some stations have transitioned to remote or procedural-only coverage overnight—potentially weakening real-time tracking of localized disasters such as floods and wildfires.
These reductions have sparked bipartisan concern in Congress, particularly as severe weather events and infrastructure vulnerabilities continue to draw public attention. While PHMSA recently proposed new safety requirements for carbon dioxide pipelines—part of a broader response to growing reliance on carbon capture technologies—some lawmakers argue that newly proposed rules are not enough to offset enforcement slowdowns.
For communities living near pipelines, changes in federal oversight are more than a policy shift—they are a matter of daily security.
“We don’t have room for regulatory experiments,” said Janet Cleveland, a resident of rural Minnesota whose township hosts multiple energy corridors. “If something goes wrong, it’s not Washington that deals with the aftermath. It’s us.”
As the administration continues to refine its energy and environmental agenda, the trajectory of federal enforcement—especially in high-risk sectors such as pipeline management—will remain a closely watched indicator of its long-term priorities. Whether the decline in oversight proves temporary or emblematic of a deeper transformation is a question now facing regulators, lawmakers, and communities alike.
Background:
Here is how this event developed over time:
- January–June 2025: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) initiates only 46 enforcement cases—the lowest number recorded since 2002, attributed to internal policy changes.
- Early 2025: Federal enforcement of pipeline safety drops to a 20-year low under the Trump administration, raising national concerns about oversight and public safety.
- Mid-2025: PHMSA launches a review of hazardous materials regulations, aiming to reduce regulatory “burdens” and inviting public feedback on potential rule repeals or amendments.
- Mid-2025: A parallel regulatory reform process begins for pipeline safety rules, aligned with Trump’s broader deregulatory agenda.
- July 17, 2025: Paul Roberti, nominee for PHMSA administrator, testifies to Congress, pledging commitment to pipeline safety despite falling enforcement statistics.
- July 2025: The Trump administration proposes a budget with sweeping environmental cuts, including a 54% reduction in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), threatening programs related to water quality and pollution control.
- July 2025: Reports reveal a 20% cut in National Weather Service (NWS) personnel at nearly half of its local offices, undermining emergency response and flood forecasting capabilities.
- July 2025: Amid enforcement concerns, PHMSA introduces proposed safety regulations specifically targeting CO₂ pipelines, highlighting inconsistencies in the administration’s regulatory approach.