WASHINGTON (January 21, 2025)—President Donald Trump yesterday directed agencies to begin developing action plans to roll back regulations that affect “consumer choice in vehicles,” a thinly veiled attack on state and federal standards designed to limit climate harms exacerbated by the transportation system. Pres. Trump’s administration is expected to propose significantly weakened rules which will need to go through a formal notice-and-comment process, later this year.
Below is a statement by Steven Higashide, the director of the Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
“On his first day in office, President Trump attacked science while promising to make our air dirtier and our climate more dangerous.
“Transportation is the largest source of global warming emissions in the United States. Limiting transportation sector pollution is crucial to combatting climate change and improving public health. Commonsense standards also reward automakers for adopting innovative technologies and providing a greater variety of clean vehicles that can meet all consumer needs.
“Standards incentivizing lower tailpipe emissions and higher fuel efficiency for cars and trucks have been a cornerstone in the fight against air pollution, successfully reducing global warming pollution smog and soot, while saving consumers billions of dollars at the gas pump.
“Rescinding these lifesaving standards places fossil fuel industry interests above all else and would be devastating for people and the planet.
“This move by President Trump disregards scientific fact while also violating states’ longstanding authority to set and adopt more stringent emissions standard. This clear attack on the U.S. Clean Air Act and state environmental leadership risks slamming the brakes on technological advancement and throwing a wrench into states’ ability to deal with air pollution and confront the growing risk of climate change.
“President Trump’s decision will result in more illness and death due to air pollution and added heat-trapping emissions that worsen climate change.
“Policymakers, industry leaders and advocates must oppose this harmful move and support science-based policies that prioritize a sustainable transportation future and the public health of all people.”