DoT to Roll Back Fuel Standards, Hike Gas Prices — SkimNews
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- Department of Transportation is set to announce Monday a reduction of the 2031 fleet fuel economy target from 50.4 mpg to 34.5 mpg, with NHTSA estimating the change would raise aggregate fuel costs by $185 billion and carbon emissions by 5%
- Department of Energy analysis, signed off by oil CEO Chris Wright now heading the agency, projects gas prices will rise 76 cents per gallon — a figure that contradicts Trump's Saturday post claiming the rollback would 'lower prices'
- Sean Duffy signed a Day 1 memo at DoT promising to reverse CAFE standards previously estimated to save Americans $23 billion, framing the change as rolling back an EV mandate that the source notes never existed
- Congress already zeroed out CAFE fines through procedural maneuvers as part of a $4 trillion package, making the DoT rollback somewhat redundant, though the source notes multi-front attacks make future unwinding harder
- Of 68,294 public comments submitted on the rollback, the vast majority opposed hiking fuel and health costs, per the source
- Duffy also recently eliminated federal guidance on bike lanes and road safety; the source cites analysis projecting pedestrian and cyclist fatality rates could rise 19-54% if localities adopt the new guidelines
Why it matters: American drivers face a documented 76-cent-per-gallon gas price increase directly traceable to a Trump administration policy, with the rollback projected to add $185 billion in aggregate fuel costs and 5% more carbon emissions. The change lands while oil prices are already at all-time highs from an ongoing war of choice, compounding costs for consumers who overwhelmingly opposed the plan in 68,294 public comments.
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