Supreme Court issues key rulings on greenhouse gas emissions, 'Remain in Mexico' policy

The Supreme Court has ended its term with two more highly significant decisions.
In the first ruling announced on Thursday, the Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision curbed the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, NBC News reports. The majority ruled that the Clean Air Act did not grant the EPA the authority "to devise emissions caps based on the generation shifting approach the agency took in the Clean Power Plan," per Axios.
The decision was a major blow to the Biden administration, which earlier this year announced a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent that the decision "deprives EPA of the power needed — and the power granted — to curb the emission of greenhouse gases."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a separate ruling, though, the Supreme Court did hand the Biden administration a win. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled the administration doesn't have to continue the "Remain in Mexico" immigration policy from the Trump administration, which required asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting their claims to be heard. The majority opinion was written by Chief Justice John Roberts, who said that "Congress conferred contiguous-territory return authority in expressly discretionary terms," and he was joined by conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 16, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - welcome mat, goodbye aid, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 preposterously funny cartoons about Trump's plan for the Gaza Riviera
Cartoons Artists take on a new solution, a special operation, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Mountains and monasteries in Armenia
The Week Recommends An e-bike adventure through the 'rare beauty' of the West Asian nation
By The Week UK Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Top US prosecutors resign rather than drop Adams case
speed read The interim US attorney for the Southern District and five senior Justice Department officials quit following an order to drop the charges against Mayor Eric Adams
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms Gabbard as intelligence chief
Speed Read The controversial former Democratic lawmaker, now Trump loyalist, was sworn in as director of national intelligence
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Putin plan Ukraine peace talks without Kyiv
Speed Read President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not included
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Elon Musk defends DOGE effort from Oval Office
Speed Read President Trump signed an executive order giving DOGE even more power to shape the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge says White House defying order to spend funds
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John McConnell has ordered the Trump administration to restore federal funding it tried to freeze
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump DOJ orders end to charges against NYC mayor
Speed Read The Justice Department has dropped charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was charged with bribery and fraud
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published