A coalition of environmental organizations has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to lower vehicle fuel efficiency standards.
Key facts
- •The lawsuit was filed Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- •The new CAFE standards target a fleetwide average of 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031, down from the 50.4 miles per gallon projected under previous rules.
- •The Department of Transportation claims the policy will reduce the average upfront cost of new vehicles by $1,300.
- •Plaintiffs include the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Conservation Law Foundation, and the Environmental Defense Fund.
- •The transportation industry accounted for 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions as of 2022.
A group of environmental organizations filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals on Friday, challenging the Trump administration's recent decision to relax Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The lawsuit argues that the rollback will increase gasoline consumption, raise costs for motorists, and contribute to higher levels of pollution.
By the numbers
Revised Fuel Economy Standards
The Trump administration announced the new standards on Monday, setting a fleetwide average of approximately 34.9 miles per gallon for passenger cars and light trucks by the 2031 model year. This replaces previous rules established by the Biden administration, which had projected a fleetwide average of 50.4 miles per gallon. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the change aims to provide consumers with more vehicle choice and remove what he described as an illegal mandate forcing automakers to produce electric vehicles.
Arguments from Plaintiffs
The lawsuit was filed by the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Conservation Law Foundation, the Environmental Defense Fund, and Public Citizen. Katherine Garcia of the Sierra Club characterized the rollback as a reckless move that prioritizes industry profits over public health and consumer savings. Robert Weissman of Public Citizen added that consumers require more fuel-efficient options to maximize miles per dollar.
Administration Rationale
The Department of Transportation stated that the revised standards will lower the average upfront cost of new vehicles by $1,300 and reduce annual oil consumption. While the administration claims the policy will encourage the purchase of newer, safer vehicles, experts cited in the reports noted that reducing fuel economy requirements does not necessarily lower vehicle costs or guarantee increased sales.
Timeline
- Late FebruaryGasoline prices were approximately $2.98 before the start of the conflict involving Iran.
- MondayThe Trump administration announced the lowering of CAFE standards.
- FridayEnvironmental groups filed a lawsuit against the administration in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ABC News Business, CBS MoneyWatch.
