Sierra Club Statement on Trump’s Day One Attack on Clean Transportation

January 20, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of a series of executive orders seeking to "unleash American energy," Donald Trump today indicated that he will roll back key federal vehicle emission standards for cars and trucks.

The executive orderreverses action by the Biden Administration to maintain U.S. leadership on clean cars and trucks, including revoking the goal that 50 percent of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in 2030 be zero-emission vehicles.

Trump's announcement signals his intent to roll back existing vehicle standards, but it is not immediate; the administration must issue a notice and open a comment period for each rule-making.

In response, Katherine García, Sierra Club director of the Clean Transportation for All campaign, released the following statement:

"The transition to electric vehicles is opening factories and putting people back to work across the country. Instead of building upon progress we've made, Donald Trump remains intent on fear-mongering around electric vehicles and taking the U.S. back in time while the rest of the world moves forward on auto innovation. Rolling back vehicle emission safeguards harms our health, our wallets, and our climate. We will fight him at every turn of the road."

Background on what's at stake administratively under the Trump administration:

EPA/DOT standards:

• EPA's Clean Cars Standards are expected to boost production of cleaner cars, provide $13 billion in annual public health benefits due to improved air quality, and save consumers $62 billion in costs for fuel and maintenance.
• EPA 'Phase 3' Clean Trucks Standards will help reduce deadly diesel exhaust and climate pollution. Eliminating these standards will put communities in jeopardy, allowing billions of metric tons of avoidable pollution.
• NHTSA's Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards set requirements for how far vehicles must travel on a gallon of fuel. Eliminating this program will cost consumers more money at the pump. Consumer Reports' Q4 2024 surveyshowed two-thirds of Americans (64%) agree that the U.S. government should continue to increase fuel economy standards.

States' Authority

In 2019, during the first Trump Administration, EPA revoked California's Clean Air Act authorityto establish emissions standards for new vehicles. The ability of states with severe air pollution problems to implement stronger-than-federal tailpipe policies has long been authorized under the Clean Air Act, one of the US's bedrock environmental laws. Currently, a dozen states (plus DC) follow one or more of the newest state clean transportation policies set by California under Clean Air Act authority.

• The Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) standards will rapidly reduce pollution from cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks made in model years 2026 through 2035. The standards increase the number of zero-emission vehicles automakers need to offer consumers. EPA has already granted a waiver, and twelve states plus DChave adopted the program.
• The Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT)standards require manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to deliver an increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles to states through 2035. Manufacturers have many flexibilities and paths to compliance. EPA has already granted a waiver, and California is in the second year of implementation. Eleven stateshave adopted the program.
• Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO)is an emissions standard that requires new combustion engine trucks and buses to emit incrementally less toxic air pollution. EPA has already granted a waiver, and this program has been adopted by ten states.

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.

transportation, electric vehicles