The U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) announced plans to rescind a climate rule introduced under former President Joe Biden, which required states to measure and set declining targets for greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles on the national highway system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, appointed by President Donald Trump, approved the rollback, stating it aligned with the administration’s goal of reducing regulatory burdens and promoting American energy. A federal court had previously blocked the Biden rule.
Additionally, Duffy signaled plans to ease stringent Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger and heavy vehicles set by Biden. The move follows a lawsuit from Texas and 21 other states arguing USDOT lacked the authority to enforce the emissions rule.
Biden’s regulation did not impose specific reduction targets or penalties, allowing states flexibility in setting goals. A similar Obama-era rule was repealed in 2018 during Trump’s first term.
Last week, Trump revoked a 2021 executive order aimed at ensuring 50% of new U.S. vehicle sales were electric by 2030. He also pledged to halt unspent funds from a $5 billion EV charging program, end a waiver allowing states to mandate zero-emission vehicle rules by 2035, and reconsider EV tax credits.
The Biden administration defended the emissions rule as vital to achieving a net-zero economy by 2050. However, the final regulation did not mandate states to set targets aligned with that goal.
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