Trump Administration Rollback of Fuel Economy Standards | 2026 Policy Impact
US Fuel Economy Rollback Policy 2026
The Trump administration plans to roll back vehicle mileage standards for heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, it announced in a letter to manufacturers Friday.
In the letter, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jonathan Morrison said the administration would propose to roll back the standards, which were tightened under the Biden administration.
“NHTSA is moving forward with the next phase of its work to reset the fuel economy program: ensuring realistic standards for heavy-duty pickups and vans (HDPUV) that comply with the law,” Morrison wrote.
He added that while the administration is already moving to loosen standards for passenger cars and light trucks, “we are also working in parallel on a proposal to reset the HDPUV standards.”
Morrison, whose NHTSA is part of the Transportation Department, added that “unrealistic” standards “harm American consumers and business owners who use these commercial vehicles.”
The Biden administration ratcheted up fuel economy standards, with the goal of making the nation’s fleet of heavy-duty trucks and vans reach 35 miles per gallon in test conditions by the year 2035. This would require a 10 percent annual improvement for model years 2030 through 2032 and an 8 percent annual improvement for 2033 through 2035.
Friday’s announcement comes after the administration indicated in June that it wouldn’t enforce the Biden-era standards.
It also comes after the administration proposed to significantly loosen standards for passenger cars and light trucks.
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