Trump Administration Finalizes Rule that Makes Cars Less Fuel Efficient

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Rule Will Drive Up Costs at the Pump for Families Already Struggling with High Prices

WASHINGTON, D.C. — [On Saturday], Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the Trump administration has finalized a rule rolling back federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, making vehicles less fuel efficient and forcing Americans to spend more on gasoline.

The move comes as families are already struggling with sky-high gasoline costs and an affordability crisis. Transportation is the second-largest household expense after housing, accounting for roughly 17 percent of average household spending. Making cars less fuel efficient will make it even more expensive for families to get to work, school, grocery stores, and other essential destinations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that stronger fuel economy standards could save Americans billions in fuel costs while reducing national gasoline consumption by tens of billions of gallons. Rolling back the CAFE standards will endanger these important benefits.

In response to the announcement, Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Director Katherine García released the following statement:

“Families already cannot afford the basics, and now Donald Trump wants to make driving more expensive too. Less fuel-efficient cars mean more gas burned, spending more at the pump, and dirtier air in our communities. Americans need relief from high costs, but instead Trump is giving automakers a free pass on pollution and handing families the bill – at the pump and with their health. The Sierra Club will fight this senseless rollback every step of the way. We’re going to continue to fight back against this administration’s dangerous and costly attacks on cleaner cars and public health.”