Press Release 10.21.26
Aaron Szabo helps clients navigate federal environmental regulation and find practical solutions that support environmental and business goals across energy, manufacturing, transportation and infrastructure.
Drawing on over a decade of federal regulatory experience, most recently as the Senate-confirmed head of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, Aaron advises corporations and trade associations in energy, utilities, chemicals and manufacturing as they navigate a rapidly changing regulatory landscape. With firsthand knowledge of how agencies develop, defend, implement and reconsider rules, he helps clients manage regulatory risk and engage federal agencies, with particular emphasis on Clean Air Act and nuclear energy matters.
Representative Experience
- Led EPA’s rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding and its repeal of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regulations for motor vehicles, as well as most GHG emissions regulations for power plants.
- Led EPA’s permitting reforms to expedite construction and operation of data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities within the United States, including revisions to “Begin Actual Construction” and the Regional Haze Program.
- Represented corporations and trade associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, on Clean Air Act, chemicals, climate, permitting and regulatory strategy matters.
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- Directed hundreds of changes to EPA’s national air programs in 2025 and 2026, including air quality, emissions, climate and permitting policies and rules.
- Launched EPA’s “CAA Resources for Data Centers” webpage to support data center development.
- Oversaw programs governing air pollution, vehicle emissions and renewable fuel requirements under the Clean Air Act.
- Advised the EPA Administrator, the White House and executive leadership on regulatory strategy, enforcement priorities, policy decisions and interagency coordination.
- In private practice, advised clients in the oil and natural gas, electric utility and chemical industries on energy and environmental policy and led coalitions advocating for energy clients.
- As Senior Counsel at the Council on Environmental Quality, worked on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for CEQ’s National Environmental Policy Act regulations.
- Shaped more than 40 significant federal rulemakings as an OMB Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Senior Policy Advisor, including the development of, rescission and replacement of the Clean Power Plan.
- Advanced the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s post-Fukushima safety agenda, while handling regulatory reviews and licensing matters.
Professional Highlights
- Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2025 as Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.
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- Speaking Engagements
- “U.S. EPA Office of Air & Radiation Updates,” Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA) Fall Business Meeting, Raleigh, North Carolina, September 10, 2026.
- “A Conversation with the Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation,” National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) Spring Membership Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri, May 12, 2026.
- “Keynote: Cooperative Federalism in the Southeast and U.S. EPA Office of Air & Radiation Updates,” AAPCA Spring Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, April 8, 2026.
- “New Directions in U.S. EPA’s Air Program,” 2026 Environmental Conference of the States Spring Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, March 30, 2026.
- “Morning Plenary Session,” Air & Waste Management Association Data Centers Technical Program, Herndon, Virginia, March 25, 2026.
- “Remarks on Ethanol Policy,” Renewable Fuels Association National Ethanol Conference, Orlando, Florida, February 25, 2026.
- “A Conversation with the Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation,” NACAA Fall Membership Meeting, Alexandria, Virginia, October 7, 2025.
- “U.S. EPA Office of Air & Radiation Updates,” AAPCA 2025 Fall Business Meeting, Raleigh, North Carolina, September 25, 2025.
- “Regulator Roundtable: EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Aaron Szabo,” Sidley Austin LLP Regulator Roundtable, Washington, DC, September 16, 2025.
- “White House Roundtable on AI and Data Centers,” Washington, D.C., September 15, 2025.
- “Air Quality,” 37th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference, Austin, Texas, August 7, 2025.
- “EPA Regulatory Update,” Kentucky Oil & Gas Association 88th Annual Meeting, Lexington, Kentucky, June 26, 2025.
- “Meet the Directors: A Conversation with EPA’s New Leadership,” NACAA Spring Membership Meeting, The Woodlands, Texas, May 13, 2025.
- “U.S. EPA Office of Air & Radiation Priorities,” AAPCA’s 2025 Spring Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, May 2, 2025.
Education
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J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2010
B.A., Economics and Government and Politics, University of Maryland, College Park, 2006
Admissions
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District of Columbia
Maryland