Gage Skidmore via Wikipedia
CV NEWS FEED // In what has been described as “the biggest day of deregulation in American history,” President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun rolling back vehicle fuel efficiency standards enacted during the Biden administration.
The move, first reported by the New York Post, is aimed at reversing what Republicans have called a de facto “electric vehicle mandate.”
According to the Post, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized the burden of regulatory costs on the American auto industry, stating, “The American auto industry has been hamstrung by the crushing regulatory regime of the last administration.” The existing environmental regulations, imposed under the Biden administration’s “Green” policy agenda to reduce emissions from light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles, come with an estimated compliance cost of $700 billion.
The Biden-era EPA finalized the rules in March 2024, requiring automakers to significantly cut carbon emissions, with a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty vehicles by nearly 50% by 2032. While the Biden administration argued that the regulations would generate net benefits, critics maintain that they impose unfair burdens on consumers and manufacturers.
Trump, who publicly purchased a Tesla on Tuesday, reiterated his stance on consumer choice, stating, “Some people like the gasoline — and they should have their options. I’m all about options,” the Post reported.
The rollback is proceeding under the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires public notice and comment before the final decision is made. Republicans have long argued that the Biden administration’s emissions targets would force automakers to prioritize electric and hybrid vehicles over traditional gas-powered options.
The Trump administration’s approach signals a major shift away from aggressive climate regulations toward a deregulation-focused economic policy.
The rollback comes as consumer enthusiasm for electric vehicles continues to wane. As CatholicVote.org recently reported, a survey by consulting firm EY found that only 34% of U.S. consumers planned to purchase an EV as their next car, a significant drop from 48% in the previous year. The percentage of those considering a fully electric vehicle specifically fell from 22% to just 11%.
With skepticism growing, the EPA’s rollback of Biden’s EV policies could be seen as a response to both industry concerns and shifting public sentiment.