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Attorney General Brown Leads Coalition Challenging Trump Administration’s Fuel Economy Rollback
BALTIMORE — Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined forces with 21 other attorneys general, four cities, and one county to formally oppose the Trump administration’s proposal to weaken federal fuel economy standards, arguing the plan is unlawful and would harm both consumers and the environment.
In a comment letter submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the coalition targets the agency’s proposed rollback of corporate average fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks — standards that have historically reduced consumer costs by improving vehicle fuel efficiency and decreasing gasoline demand, according to the letter.
The dispute centers on NHTSA’s interpretation of the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which requires the agency to establish “maximum feasible” fuel economy standards based on technological feasibility, economic practicability, and the need to conserve energy.
Under the new proposal, NHTSA would exclude electric vehicles from its baseline fleet analysis — a departure from past rulemakings, including during the first Trump administration, when the agency accounted for millions of EVs already on American roads.
“NHTSA’s decision to pretend EVs and EV sales do not exist is contrary to law and bad agency decision-making,” the coalition argues in the letter.
The attorneys general contend that by ignoring electric vehicles throughout the rulemaking process, NHTSA has produced a “dramatically distorted analysis” of what fuel economy levels the auto industry can feasibly achieve.
The coalition further alleges that NHTSA has employed flawed analyses of vehicle affordability, sales projections, fleet turnover rates, fuel savings, and vehicle safety to portray the rollback as beneficial to society.
According to the comment letter, NHTSA is concealing billions of dollars in lost fuel savings — money drivers would save at the pump under existing standards — that the proposed rule would effectively transfer from consumers to oil companies. The coalition also says the agency ignores hundreds of billions of dollars in projected future damages from climate change-driven disasters.
“The proposal also assumes that the United States does not really need to conserve energy, after all,” the letter states, adding that NHTSA appears to treat high gasoline prices and volatile global oil markets as an acceptable trade-off for fossil fuel company profits.
The coalition specifically challenges NHTSA’s termination of credit trading between auto manufacturers as “arbitrary and capricious,” arguing the change harms vehicle affordability.
Joining Brown in the letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, along with the cities of Chicago, Denver, New York, and San Francisco, and Denver County.
“Robust fuel economy standards are necessary to save drivers money and protect the environment, but NHTSA would rather weaken fuel economy standards,” said California Attorney General Bonta. “We are at a critical juncture in protecting our people and the environment, and that’s why I urge this Administration to course-correct and maintain the strong standards NHTSA previously put in place.”
“The Trump administration’s proposal to lower fuel efficiency standards would undo decades of progress we have made to save consumers money at the pump, reduce oil dependence and cut the emission of pollution including particulate matter and greenhouse gases,” Illinois Attorney General Raoul said. “I will continue to defend science-backed emission standards that lower prices while protecting the environment and our health.”
“The EPA’s own numbers show this rollback will raise gas prices and cost families more than it saves. We’re going to court to stop it,” said North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson.
“The EPA’s recission of the Endangerment Finding is a massive step backward that threatens our efforts to lower costs and keep people safe from extreme weather events,” said North Carolina Governor Josh Stein. “I thank Attorney General Jackson for taking action to protect North Carolinians’ pocketbooks and futures.”
Senator Edward J. Markey, Massachussetts member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, hosted a press conference calling on the Trump administration to end its proposed rule to roll back Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which was intended to save money for drivers and reduce oil consumption.
Senator Markey was joined by Senator Alex Padilla of California, the National Consumers League, Moms Clean Air Force, and a local business owner feeling the pain of high gas prices caused by Trump’s expensive, dangerous, and unnecessary war with Iran. The Senator argued that President Trump’s war of choice in Iran has caused gas prices to spike by more than $1.50 in just over two months. He called on all car manufacturers to voluntarily recognize previous, more stringent fuel economy standards amidst the ongoing fuel cost crisis.
“With one hand, Donald Trump is rolling back the very standards that keep our vehicles leaner, cleaner, and cheaper, and with the other hand he is driving up gas prices,” said Senator Markey. “That’s like a doctor who makes you sick, withholds the cure, and sends you a bill for both. I am calling on the administration to withdraw their proposed rule to roll back these standards in light of the energy emergency they single-handedly created.”
“Costs are low when fuel economy standards are high,” said Daniel Greene, the Senior Director of Product Safety & Consumer Protection at the National Consumers League. “But in the midst of sky-high gasoline prices and a deepening affordability crisis, the Trump administration response is to weaken federal fuel economy standards. That’s like pouring gasoline onto an open fire – gasoline that costs $4.50 a gallon. The National Consumers League urges the Trump administration to halt its assault on affordability and preserve robust fuel economy standards.”
“As an African American mother, grandmother, and one of the millions of people who drive a car, I have a simple message to the Trump administration: stop putting American families’ health last. Improved fuel economy standards save us money—and save lives too. Tailpipe pollution is a major threat to children’s health and is known to damage our lungs, hearts, and brains. Our children and families deserve better,” said Almeta Cooper, National Manager for Health Justice for Moms Clean Air Force.
In February, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) led 78 lawmakers in a letter to the Administration calling on it to withdraw its proposed rollback of fuel economy standards.
Last month, Senator Markey unveiled his No Big Fossil Bailouts on Your Power Bill Act in reaction to the Trump administration’s misuse of energy emergency powers, which compelled power plants to operate past their intended retirement dates. This has led to skyrocketing bills and increased pollution. Senator Markey has long been an advocate for fuel economy, having co-authored the fuel economy provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to promote stronger standards.
NHTSA has not yet responded to the coalition’s comments. The proposed rule remains under review.
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