Trump administration set to roll out lower fuel economy standards for cars, light trucks

The United States is set to announce new, less stringent fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, according to the Trump administration. This announcement comes as the administration continues to roll back environmental regulations put in place by the Biden administration.

The new standards would lower the fleetwide average fuel efficiency for light-duty vehicles, such as cars and trucks, from a projected 50.4 miles per gallon in 2031 under the Biden rules to around 34.5 miles per gallon in the same year under the new Trump administration guidelines. This change would effectively undermine efforts to reduce pollution from gasoline-powered vehicles.

President Donald Trump tweeted that the new standards would "take the waste out of building cars in America" and save families "thousands on a new, beautiful and safe car." He also claimed the changes would boost domestic auto production. However, environmentalists and consumer advocates have criticized the move, arguing that it will make driving more expensive and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) projected that the new standards would result in 22,111 more tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, along with significant increases in smog-forming pollutants. Environmental groups have vowed to fight the rule, emphasizing the negative impact it will have on consumers and the environment.