Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Environmental Groups Sue Over Trump Fuel Economy Rollback
The Trump administration lowered the fuel-efficiency targets for new cars and trucks.
The new target is about 34.9 miles per gallon for the 2031 model year, instead of the 50.4 miles per gallon projected under earlier rules.
Five environmental groups say less-efficient vehicles could use more gasoline and cause more pollution.
They also argue drivers may spend more on fuel.
The administration says the change will give people more vehicle choices and encourage safer, newer cars.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the previous rules as an illegal push toward electric vehicles.
Automakers and industry groups supported the change, while environmental groups opposed it.
The groups have asked a federal appeals court to review the rule.
Five environmental organizations filed a court challenge Friday against the Trump administration’s lower vehicle fuel economy standards.
The rule sets a fleetwide average of about 34.9 miles per gallon for passenger cars and light trucks in model year 2031, down from a projected 50.4 under Biden-era rules.
The groups say the change will increase fuel use and pollution and raise costs for drivers; the administration says it will expand vehicle choice and encourage purchases of newer, safer vehicles.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the change removes what he called an illegal mandate pushing automakers to produce more expensive electric vehicles.
Automakers and industry groups broadly welcomed the change, while environmental organizations asked the court to block it.
- Who
- The Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, and Public Citizen sued the Trump administration.
- What
- They filed a petition for review challenging the lowered Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.
- When
- The groups filed suit Friday; the administration announced the rule change Monday.
- Where
- The petition was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
- Why
- The groups argue the lower standards will make vehicles less efficient and increase fuel use and pollution.
Environmental organizations
Administration and industry supporters
Fuel use and pollution
Environmental organizations
The groups argue lower efficiency standards will increase gasoline use and tailpipe pollution.
Administration and industry supporters
The administration says the rule will reduce yearly oil consumption in 2050 compared with 2024; the articles do not provide an equivalent estimate from the environmental groups.
Costs and consumer choice
Environmental organizations
Environmental advocates say drivers could spend more on gas and challenge the rollback as favoring oil and automaker profits.
Administration and industry supporters
The administration says the change expands vehicle choice and encourages purchases of newer, safer vehicles; automakers and industry groups say the previous standards were too stringent and did not benefit consumers.
Electric vehicle mandate
Environmental organizations
The article notes there has never been a requirement that manufacturers sell EVs or that Americans buy them; earlier rules incentivized a mix of electric, hybrid, and more efficient gasoline vehicles.
Administration and industry supporters
Duffy characterized the previous rule as an illegal mandate that forced automakers to produce more expensive electric vehicles.
- New standard
- About 34.9 miles per gallon fleetwide for passenger cars and light trucks in model year 2031.
- Earlier projection
- The Biden administration’s rules projected 50.4 miles per gallon.
- Organizations suing
- Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, and Public Citizen.
- Defendants named
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator Jonathan Morrison.
- Administration’s stated rationale
- More vehicle choice and encouragement for consumers to buy newer, safer vehicles.
- Transportation Department estimate
- The department said the rule would cut yearly oil consumption in 2050 by about 1.3 billion barrels compared with yearly consumption in 2024.
- Industry response
- Auto companies and industry groups broadly welcomed the change, saying the earlier rules were too stringent and did not benefit consumers.