Environmental groups sue Trump administration over rollback of vehicle mileage rules

Updated on: October 2, 2026 / 4:45 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Friday against the Trump administration over its rollback of vehicle fuel efficiency standards, saying the move will increase gasoline consumption and boost prices at the pump for U.S. motorists.

"It is unlawful for Trump to turn back the clock on fuel-efficient cars, forcing drivers to waste more money on gas and communities to breathe toxic air," Katherine Garcia, Sierra Club's Clean Transportation for All Director, said in a statement.

The new Trump administration rules, announced on Monday, changed the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, which dictate how many miles per gallon vehicles must be able to travel. Under the revised standards, automakers must achieve a fleetwide average of 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031, down from a projected 50.4 miles under rules previously implemented by the Biden administration.

In announcing the new CAFE standards, the Department of Transportation said it will lower the average upfront cost of new vehicles by $1,300, cut annual oil consumption and give automakers more choice regarding the types of cars they manufacture. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also said the revamped rule will blunt the "illegal mandate that forced…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/