• The Trump administration has proposed significantly weakening vehicle fuel economy requirements through the 2031 model year.
  • The plan would reverse Biden-era rules that mandated annual increases, aiming to give consumers access to more affordable gasoline vehicles.
  • The move represents the latest effort to dismantle environmental regulations, drawing immediate criticism from climate advocates.

In a major policy reversal, the Trump administration on Wednesday unveiled a proposal to dramatically slash fuel economy standards for automakers through 2031, according to a document reviewed by sources. The move directly targets regulations put in place by the previous administration, which had required annual increases in efficiency for passenger cars and light trucks.

The Biden administration had mandated that automakers achieve an average of approximately 50 miles per gallon for passenger cars by 2031, up from the current standard of about 39 miles per gallon. It also implemented yearly 2% increases for light-duty vehicles from 2027 to 2031, and similar annual hikes for SUVs and light trucks from 2029 onward. The new Trump proposal would gut these requirements, though the specific, lower targets have not yet been publicly detailed in the initial filing.

Administration officials, speaking on background, framed the rollback as a necessary correction to provide economic relief. They argued the stricter rules limited consumer choice and made vehicles less affordable for American families. “The proposal increases Americans’ access to a broader range of gasoline vehicles they need and can afford,” one official said, characterizing the previous standards as overly burdensome.

For the auto industry, the shift offers a reprieve from costly compliance investments and complex engineering challenges. It also reduces the regulatory pressure to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, a cornerstone of the Biden climate agenda. The stringent tailpipe emission rules designed to encourage EV adoption are indirectly undermined by this proposal, as the urgency to develop more efficient powertrains diminishes.

Environmental groups were quick to condemn the plan. Gasoline vehicle emissions are a primary contributor to planet-warming greenhouse gases, and fuel economy standards have long been a critical federal tool for climate policy. “This is a blatant handout to the oil industry at the expense of public health and a stable climate,” said a spokesperson for a major environmental organization, who requested anonymity because their group was still formulating its official response.

The proposal is expected to trigger a lengthy regulatory process and almost certain legal challenges from blue states and environmental advocates. It marks the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration targeting Biden-era environmental policies, setting the stage for a contentious battle over the nation's climate trajectory and automotive future.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the timeline for the proposed standards. They would apply through the 2031 model year, not indefinitely.