Trump EPA Proposes to Delay Vital Health Protections That Would Reduce Car and Truck Pollution

(Washington, D.C. – May 14, 2026) The Trump EPA today proposed a two-year delay in implementing life-saving protections that reduce air pollution from cars, passenger trucks and SUVs – a move that would cause more serious heart and lung diseases and early deaths for Americans across the country and result in billions of dollars in health harms.

“This proposal would mean more harmful air pollution linked to heart attacks, strokes and asthma attacks,” said Peter Zalzal, Distinguished Counsel and Associate Vice President for Environmental Defense Fund. “Manufacturers are already building new cars and trucks using low-cost technologies that reduce this harmful pollution. Delaying these vital health protections will force Americans to breath dirtier air, lead to more death and disease, and result in billions of dollars in health harms.”  

The protections the Trump administration has proposed to delay are the 2024 “Tier 4” emissions standards, which reduce smog and soot-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx), fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new light and medium-duty vehicles in model years 2027 to 2032. 

Smog is extremely harmful to lungs. Fine particulate matter, particularly from diesel exhaust, penetrates deep into lungs and triggers asthma attacks and bronchitis.  It can permanently impair lung development in children and is directly linked to heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. Communities near major transportation corridors, ports, and warehouses and children, older adults, and people with pre-existing conditions are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of tailpipe pollution.  

Low-cost technologies are already being deployed that dramatically reduce this harmful pollution.  An EPA-MECA demonstration found it would cost less than $100 per vehicle to comply with the 2024 VOC and NOx standards, and filters to protect against deadly particle pollution represent less than one percent of a vehicle’s price.