<P> In February 2017, U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R - Fla .) sponsored H.R. 861, a bill to abolish the EPA by 2018 . According to Gaetz, "The American people are drowning in rules and regulation promulgated by unelected bureaucrats . And the Environmental Protection Agency has become an extraordinary offender ." The bill was co-sponsored by Thomas Massie (R - Ky .), Steven Palazzo (R - Ms .) and Barry Loudermilk (R - Ga .). </P> <P> In July 2005, an EPA report showing that auto companies were using loopholes to produce less fuel - efficient cars was delayed . The report was supposed to be released the day before a controversial energy bill was passed and would have provided backup for those opposed to it, but the EPA delayed its release at the last minute . </P> <P> In 2007, the state of California sued the EPA for its refusal to allow California and 16 other states to raise fuel economy standards for new cars . EPA administrator Stephen L. Johnson claimed that the EPA was working on its own standards, but the move has been widely considered an attempt to shield the auto industry from environmental regulation by setting lower standards at the federal level, which would then preempt state laws . California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with governors from 13 other states, stated that the EPA's actions ignored federal law, and that existing California standards (adopted by many states in addition to California) were almost twice as effective as the proposed federal standards . It was reported that Stephen Johnson ignored his own staff in making this decision . </P> <P> After the federal government had bailed out General Motors and Chrysler in the Automotive industry crisis of 2008--2010, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox was released with an EPA fuel economy rating abnormally higher than its competitors . Independent road tests found that the vehicle did not out - perform its competitors, which had much lower fuel economy ratings . Later road tests found better, but inconclusive, results . </P>

The environmental protection agency (epa) was created by congress to