Trump Administration Proposes Transportation Rule that Would Force Americans to Pay More at Pump

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In Addition to Rising Costs, Less Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Also Increase Air Pollution & Worsen Public Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Trump administration proposed a rule that would roll back federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, commonly known as fuel economy standards.

Transportation is the second largest household expenditure behind housing for American families, accounting for 15 percent of average household spending.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates its last update to the fuel economy standards—which the Trump administration has now said it will not enforce—would save Americans $23 billion in fuel costs and reduce our national fuel consumption by 70 billion gallons.

In response to the announcement, Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Director Katherine García released the following statement: 

“Gutting the CAFE program will make cars burn more gas and American families burn more cash. The current standards save drivers thousands of dollars each year by requiring manufacturers to produce more fuel-efficient cars. Weakening them further hurts our economic well-being at a time when families are already burdened by rising costs. This rollback would move the auto industry backwards, keeping polluting cars on our roads for years to come and threatening the health of millions of Americans, particularly children and the elderly. This dangerous proposal adds to the long list of ways the Trump administration is dismantling our clean air and public health protections. The Sierra Club will continue to push back against this administration’s egregious attacks on clean transportation.”

About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.