Employees were told that the popular energy efficiency certification program would be “de-prioritized and eliminated,” according to documents and a recording.

Established in 1992 during the George H.W. Bush administration, Energy Star was a public-private partnership that encouraged manufacturers to develop and promote energy-efficient, cost-saving appliances. Both consumers and businesses embraced the program’s products, which were marked by the familiar blue Energy Star label.

Despite having industry support and saving consumers half a trillion dollars over the decades, the program could be eliminated imminently.