Completely irresponsible on the part of this administration.

Especially since most of the big industry players complained about said loosening of rules which don’t benefit them.

Cui Bono?

Industry unleashed a right wing anti-environmentalism beyond their control or benefit. The actions take place because of the ideology.

It's not "The US government". It's not the scientists in the regulatory agencies. It's the Trump Administration. It's right there in the URL, the title, and the article body.

Shifting the blame - even unintentionally - from the politicians to the regulatory agencies helps further the narrative that government doesn't work, and (the ultimate, freely-acknowledged goal) that it should therefore be made small enough that it can be choked in the bathtub.