On Monday, September 28, the Trump administration finalized a sweeping rollback of federal clean car rules, slashing fuel economy standards for new cars and light trucks by nearly a third. The move unwinds one of the most effective climate policies on the books at a moment when gas prices are soaring and tailpipe pollution keeps climbing.
What happened?
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the new rule, branded “Freedom Means Affordable Cars,” which replaces the Biden-era standards finalized in 2024. Trump previewed the move on Truth Social on September 26, claiming it would “take the waste out of building cars in America” and save families thousands. Ford CEO Jim Farley cheered the announcement as a win for affordability.
What the rollback actually does…
Under the previous rule, the national fleet average for new cars and light-duty trucks was set to rise from 35.8 miles per gallon in 2027 to 50.4 mpg by 2031. The new rule requires only 32.3 mpg in 2027, creeping up to just 34.9 mpg by 2031. That is a major retreat from the trajectory that was pushing automakers toward cleaner, more efficient vehicles.
The sales pitch does not hold up…
The administration claims the rollback will cut the average new car price by $1,300 and save consumers $138 billion over five years. But independent experts say families will pay more in the long run. UC Berkeley economist James Sallee warned that buyers may pay less up front but spend more on gasoline over the life of the car. University of Michigan professor Anna Stefanopoulou said she “highly doubts” the promised savings will ever show up at dealerships. The Sierra Club’s Katherine Garcia put it plainly: less efficient cars mean dirtier air and more money burned at the pump.
The worst possible timing…
Gas is hovering around $4.50 a gallon nationally, driven up by the war in Iran and threats to fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Connecticut officials estimate the weakened standards will cost Americans $82 billion at the pump, and note that the old standards saved the average household $630 to $840 a year over the last decade. Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in the United States, accounting for about 28 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA. Locking in gas guzzlers now means more pollution and higher fuel bills for years.
Part of a bigger unraveling…
This rule is one piece of a coordinated campaign against clean transportation. Congress has already zeroed out the penalties automakers face for missing fuel economy targets. The $7,500 federal EV tax credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. And in February 2026, the EPA rescinded greenhouse gas standards for highway vehicles. Legal challenges to the new rule are expected, including arguments that it fails the legal requirement that fuel economy standards be set at the “maximum feasible” level.
What can people of faith can do?
California has long led the nation on clean cars, and our state standards remain a powerful counterweight to federal rollbacks. Here is how to respond:
- Contact your members of Congress and tell them to defend strong fuel economy standards.
- When your congregation or household replaces a vehicle, choose the most efficient option you can, including electric.
- Talk about it: tailpipe pollution harms our neighbors’ health and our shared Earth. People of faith have a moral voice in this fight, and it is needed now.
Join California Interfaith Power & Light as we keep pushing for policies that protect our climate and our communities.
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