In the largest rollback of government overreach in American history, President Trump’s EPA has officially begun dismantling Biden’s electric vehicle mandate that would have cost Americans an estimated $700 billion in regulatory and compliance costs.
At a Glance
- The Trump EPA has initiated the rollback of Biden-era vehicle fuel efficiency standards, widely criticized as an “electric vehicle mandate”
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the deregulatory effort as “the biggest day of deregulation in American history”
- Biden’s regulations would have forced automakers to make approximately 67% of new vehicles electric by 2032, despite EVs making up only 8.7% of current sales
- The Biden-era rules carried an estimated regulatory and compliance cost of $700 billion
- Trump campaigned on protecting consumer choice in vehicle purchases and has delivered on that promise
Biggest Deregulation Day in American History
The Environmental Protection Agency under President Trump has officially begun the process of dismantling what many Republicans rightfully identified as Biden’s “electric vehicle mandate.” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the move as part of a sweeping effort to roll back excessive regulations that threatened American consumer choice and drove up costs across the automotive industry. The initiative marks what officials are describing as “the biggest day of deregulation in American history,” with the EPA targeting rules that would have forced a radical transformation of America’s auto industry.
Zeldin didn’t mince words when describing the damage done by the previous administration’s regulatory assault on American automakers and consumers. “The American auto industry has been hamstrung by the crushing regulatory regime of the last administration,” Zeldin stated. “As we reconsider nearly one trillion dollars of regulatory costs, we will abide by the rule of law to protect consumer choice and the environment.”
Consumer Choice Restored
The Biden administration’s stringent emissions regulations would have required approximately 67% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2032 – a wildly unrealistic target considering that electric vehicles currently make up just 8.7% of new car sales in America. The forceful push toward electric vehicles ignored market realities and consumer preferences, effectively limiting Americans’ choices while driving up costs. President Trump, who campaigned explicitly on rolling back these mandates, has been crystal clear about his position on vehicle choice.
“Some people like the gasoline — and they should have their options. I’m all about options,” President Trump stated, highlighting his commitment to consumer freedom rather than government mandates, even as he recently purchased a Tesla himself.
The repeal process will follow the Administrative Procedure Act, which includes public notice and comment periods, ensuring that the regulatory rollback proceeds according to established legal frameworks. This methodical approach stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s rush to implement these costly mandates without proper consideration for their economic impact on everyday Americans.
Trillion-Dollar Regulatory Relief
Biden’s regulations would have forced automakers to overhaul their production lines and vehicle offerings at enormous expense. The EPA estimates the regulatory and compliance costs would have reached approximately $700 billion – costs that inevitably would have been passed on to consumers in the form of higher vehicle prices. While the Biden administration had claimed these regulations would yield $100 billion in annual benefits through improved public health and reduced fuel costs, those projections relied on dubious assumptions about mass adoption of electric vehicles.
Broader Deregulation Effort
The EPA’s announcement is part of a broader initiative described as “Powering the Great American Comeback,” which aims to revitalize American manufacturing and restore jobs lost to excessive regulation. The rollback extends beyond passenger vehicles to include heavy-duty trucks, which were also targeted by Biden-era emissions standards. These regulations would have significantly increased costs for goods delivered by trucks, ultimately raising prices for everyday items Americans purchase.
The EPA is also reviewing California’s Clean Air Act waiver, which enables that state to set its own emissions standards. This review is linked to California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which could be overturned if Congress votes to undo rules under the Congressional Review Act. Such a move would prevent similar regulations from being proposed again without an act of Congress, providing long-term regulatory certainty for automakers and consumers alike.
This decisive action by the Trump administration delivers on promises made during the campaign to roll back regulations that limited consumer choice and increased costs. By restoring market forces rather than government mandates as the driving factor in automotive development, the EPA’s actions aim to save Americans money, lower living costs, and boost job growth throughout the automotive sector.
