Trump administration rolls back clean‑car fuel standards for 2022‑2031

What Happened

The Trump administration on Monday announced a rollback of federal clean‑car fuel‑economy rules for model years 2022 through 2031. The change, issued by the Department of Transportation, eases requirements on gasoline‑powered cars and light trucks that had been tightened under the Biden administration. Transportation accounts for about 28% of U.S. greenhouse‑gas emissions, according to the EPA, so the shift marks a reversal of a major climate‑policy push.

Reaction

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the weaker mileage rules would “take the waste out of building cars in America,” save families “thousands on a new, beautiful and safe car,” and boost U.S. auto production. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the initiative “Freedom Means Affordable Cars,” saying it would cut the average price of a new vehicle by $1,300 and save consumers $138 billion over five years. He added that the move ends an “illegal mandate” for expensive electric vehicles. Environmental groups condemned the rule. Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s safe climate transport campaign, said the final rule “ignores the feasibility of clean technology” and harms consumers at the pump while benefiting “Big Oil and Big Auto.” Sierra Club director Katherine García warned the loosened standards will make driving more expensive. American Lung Association president and CEO Harold Wimmer warned the rule will create more air pollution, hurt health and accelerate climate change, noting that children are especially vulnerable to traffic‑related respiratory problems.

Context

The rollback reduces the annual fuel‑efficiency gains the Biden plan set at 8% for 2024‑25, 10% for 2026 and 2% thereafter, and replaces them with a modest 0.25‑0.5% rise each year. The Department estimates the shift will add about 100 billion gallons of fuel use and $185 billion in fuel spending through 2050, and raise CO₂ emissions by roughly 5%.