Trump Administration Will Reportedly Roll Back Fuel Economy Standards for Vehicles

The Trump administration is planning to substantially weaken fuel economy standards, according to news reports.

Reports suggest this will be based on the administration’s views about the legality of one aspect of those standards – how the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considered electric vehicles – and will occur without the required public input and legal process. The final rule is under review now at the Office of Management and Budget. 

NHTSA estimates its newest update to the CAFE standards, finished just last year, would save Americans $23 billion in fuel costs and reduce our national fuel consumption by 70 billion gallons.

“The Trump administration’s reported plans to weaken fuel economy standards will mean higher costs for Americans at the gas pump and more reliance on foreign oil. The administration also appears poised to act without considering any public input – improperly excluding the views of those who will be most harmed most by this action. This U-turn on fuel economy standards would be disastrous for our economy, security and environment.”

            - Peter Zalzal, Associate Vice President for Clean Air Strategies, Environmental Defense Fund