Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Key Step Toward Making Cars Affordable in America Again

CAFE interpretive rule clarifies NHTSA’s authority to reset illegal regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today published a final rule, “Resetting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Program.” The rule explains that the Biden-Buttigieg Administration ignored statutory requirements in CAFE barring consideration of electric vehicles when setting fuel economy standards.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are making vehicles more affordable and easier to manufacture in the United States The previous administration illegally used CAFE standards as an electric vehicle mandate – raising new car prices and reducing safety. Resetting CAFE standards as Congress intended will lower vehicle costs and ensure the American people can purchase the cars they want,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

The rule identifies factors statutorily prohibited from consideration when setting maximum feasible fuel economy standards under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and other applicable law. It also describes NHTSA’s authority to bring the CAFE program into compliance with relevant statutory requirements, in accordance with the President’s “Unleashing American Energy” Executive Order and the Secretary’s “Fixing the CAFE Program” Memorandum.

The rule also describes NHTSA’s interpretation of its authority for a commercial medium- and heavy-duty on-highway vehicle and work truck fuel efficiency improvement program, to establish the necessary legal foundation to bring that program into compliance with law.

This rule does not itself change existing CAFE or medium- and heavy-duty standards. During the rulemaking process for replacement standards, NHTSA will exercise its enforcement authority regarding all existing CAFE and medium- and heavy-duty standards in accordance with the interpretation set forth in this rulemaking. 

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