Trump Moves to Make Drivers Pay More at the Pump

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his first action as secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Sean Duffy started the process of lowering fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.

Rolling back the most recent standards, which kick in model year 2027, would mean drivers pay $23 billion more at the pump and would lead to the consumption of an additional 70 billion gallons of gasoline. It would be a boon for Big Oil.

Following is statement from Kathy Harris, director for clean vehicles at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“So much for the promise that the Trump administration would save Americans money on their energy bills. In the real world, gutting these fuel efficiency standards will mean drivers have to hand over more of their hard-earned paychecks at the pump.

“Making cars less fuel efficient was a key demand of oil executives, and this administration is delivering for them. For the rest of us, this is a harsh blow when we can afford it least.”

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).