The Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reveling in what it claims is a monumental achievement in its ongoing war against climate change: the criminal conviction of a man smuggling “illegal greenhouse gases.” Yes, while inflation crushes wallets and energy prices soar, the administration has decided that catching a 58-year-old importing banned refrigerants from Mexico deserves a victory lap. This, apparently, is what progress looks like in the world of Biden’s EPA—celebrating a small-time environmental crime bust as though it’s singlehandedly saving the planet.
According to the Department of Justice, Michael Hart, the man at the center of this earth-shaking case, wasn’t exactly operating a cartel. His scheme involved buying hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in Mexico, sneaking them across the border in his car, and selling them online. For his entrepreneurial spirit, Hart now faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The EPA, not missing an opportunity to puff up its chest, called this case proof of its “revitalized enforcement” under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, most Americans are left wondering how stopping smuggled refrigerants ranks as a major priority when the country faces far bigger challenges.
The EPA’s timing in spotlighting this case is no accident, coming just weeks before Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Biden’s environmental watchdogs seem intent on squeezing every ounce of mileage out of their accomplishments—however trivial—before Trump’s expected shake-up of federal priorities. While the Biden administration frets over maintaining its regulatory momentum, Trump has given no indication that he plans to let polluters run wild. Instead, his focus will likely shift toward scaling back excessive regulations and fostering energy independence, a far cry from the current administration’s headline-chasing approach.
Biden’s EPA boasts of its broader record, including $1.7 billion in penalties, over 1,800 civil cases settled, and 121 criminal charges filed. These numbers look impressive on a press release, but critics argue they mask a deeper issue: prioritizing symbolic wins over tackling systemic environmental challenges. Cases like Hart’s might pad the administration’s stats, but they do little to move the needle on meaningful environmental reform. Instead, they serve as convenient talking points for an administration eager to appear tough on climate issues without addressing the bigger picture.
Under Trump’s leadership, the EPA is poised for a significant course correction. His pick to lead the agency, Rep. Lee Zeldin, has made no secret of his disdain for burdensome regulations that stifle economic growth. Zeldin has promised to prioritize domestic oil and gas production, aiming to lower energy costs and relieve financial pressures on struggling households. The contrast couldn’t be sharper: Biden’s EPA criminalizing refrigerant smugglers versus Trump’s incoming team focused on balancing environmental goals with economic realities. If nothing else, it signals a return to pragmatism, leaving behind the performative victories that have defined the current administration’s environmental agenda.
