Trump says he will repeal Biden-era fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks
Guardian1 day
Trump Proposes Slashing Fuel Economy Standards
Would this rollback save families money on car prices, or ultimately cost Americans billions more in fuel and environmental damage?
Above: An exhaust pipe extends from a muffler in Pasadena, Calif., on Dec. 3, 2025. Image credit: Mario Tama/Staff/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Biden's unrealistic mandate would have forced massive price hikes on new cars while pushing unwanted electric vehicles that Americans aren't buying. Resetting standards saves families $109 billion and lets automakers build the affordable, safer vehicles consumers actually want. Market realities matter more than environmental fantasies that kill jobs and choice.
Democratic narrative
Rolling back fuel economy standards forces Americans into gas-guzzling vehicles that drain family budgets and poison the air children breathe. This giveaway to Big Oil reverses critical progress on climate change while costing drivers more at the pump through 2050. Gutting these protections means more tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2035, plus deadly soot and smog choking communities.