Trump rolls back fuel economy rules as critics warn drivers will face higher costs at the pump

From the Newshound archive · first published 28 September 2026 · last updated 29 September 2026.

President Donald Trump's administration is set to announce deep reductions to federal fuel economy standards Monday, cutting the fleetwide target for new light-duty cars from 50.4 miles per gallon to just 34.5 mpg by 2031. Trump posted on Truth Social that the change would reduce production costs and put thousands of dollars back in buyers' pockets when purchasing a new car, while Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the rollback over the weekend. Critics responded swiftly, calling the timing disastrous for consumers already struggling with record prices at the pump.

Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity warned Trump is 'tanking sensible mile per gallon standards at the worst possible time for consumers.'

The rollback builds on earlier Trump moves — scrapping EV tax credits worth up to $7,500 and eliminating fines for carmakers that miss efficiency targets.