U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has repealed an environmental regulation from the Biden Administration that focused on greenhouse gas emissions targets. This move is his first deregulatory action within the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. Duffy stated, "Under President Trump’s leadership, we are going to build great, big, beautiful things again. I slashed this ridiculous climate requirement to ensure no radical political agenda gets in the way of revitalizing America’s highways."
Jim Tymon, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), expressed appreciation for the repeal of the rule, noting that it had been considered in 2021 during Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act discussions but was excluded from the final legislation. He highlighted state collaboration with USDOT on national performance measures set by law in 2012.
Dave Bauer, President and CEO of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), commended the decision to eliminate what he described as an unnecessary mandate that imposed additional burdens. He noted that repealing the greenhouse gas (GHG) rule lifted a regulatory hurdle that would have increased costs.
Dan Horvath, Senior Vice President of the American Trucking Associations, argued that states are better positioned to determine transportation needs and that the rule would have created barriers to federal funding access. Horvath supported the repeal, claiming it would avoid traffic congestion and reduced shipping costs.
Alex Etchen, Vice President of Government Relations for the Associated General Contractors of America, stated that the regulation would have delayed infrastructure projects essential to transportation. He indicated that repealing it aligns with congressional intent and benefits the American economy.
The GHG rule required state transportation departments to track carbon dioxide emissions on federally funded highways. The rule had previously been rescinded during the first Trump Administration and reinstated by the Biden Administration but was later deemed outside the Department's authority by two federal judges.
The rescission aligns with Secretary Duffy's efforts to undo what he views as burdensome policies, reinforcing a focus on economic growth and regulatory reform as priorities for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
