CAC’s Margie Alt: Rolling Back Fuel Economy Standards Hurts Americans’ Health and Pocketbooks while Benefiting Big Oil

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2026
CONTACT: Gabrielle Levy, Glevy@cacampaign.org, 562-673-6974

CAC’s Margie Alt: Rolling Back Fuel Economy Standards  Hurts Americans’ Health and Pocketbooks while Benefiting Big Oil

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized its unnecessary and very costly rollback of federal fuel economy standards, otherwise known as CAFE standards (i.e. Corporate Average Fuel Economy). These standards, which require automakers to meet a minimum average miles-per-gallon target across all cars and light trucks they sell each model year, have been wildly successful. By pushing manufacturers to sell more fuel-efficient vehicles, fuel economy standards lower drivers’ fuel bills over a vehicle’s lifetime and limit exposure to volatile gasoline prices; price volatility American drivers are all too familiar with since the start of the Trump administration’s war with Iran. Margie Alt, Director of the Climate Action Campaign, released the following statement in response:

“The Trump administration’s rollback of fuel economy standards is another direct attack on American families’ wallets, health, and future. Worse, they’ve disingenuously tried to dress this up as relief for average Americans. American drivers and consumers know better, because we’re the ones paying the astronomically higher bills. All this new Trump corporate giveaway does is pile on new economic and environmental burdens that struggling Americans can ill afford. NHTSA’s own data shows this proposal will cost drivers a minimum of $1,100 more in fuel over a vehicle’s lifetime.

“This administration claims lower costs are its top priority. Yet it’s gutting a policy that since 2001 has cut the average lifetime cost of a new car by $9,000, all while handing automakers fuel economy standards weaker than what they’re already achieving. This is nothing more than a giveaway to Big Oil. The math doesn’t add up, and neither does the hypocrisy.

“Weaker standards mean higher costs at the pump and more tailpipe pollution poisoning the air our kids breathe. And this will mean more climate pollution too, accelerating the extreme heat, wildfires, and storms battering families around the country right now. This move by the Trump administration is kind to oil companies and cruel to the rest of us.”

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About the Climate Action Campaign
Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is a vibrant coalition driving ambitious, durable, equitable federal action to tackle the climate crisis. By cutting carbon pollution and accelerating the transition to clean energy, we will improve public health and create a more resilient economy and a more sustainable future for all.