Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued a statement criticizing the Trump Administration’s decision to roll back automobile fuel efficiency standards.
Whitehouse stated, “Trump’s regulatory gifts to his corrupt fossil fuel megadonors just keep coming. This terrible idea will force American families to spend $23 billion more at the pump so Trump can funnel even more money from the pockets of hardworking Americans into the coffers of Big Oil tycoons. Trump is, yet again, choosing his billionaire buddies over the American people. Thanks to his relentless attacks on cleaner vehicles, thousands of auto workers have lost their jobs, America has lagged back in international competition, and we’ll all be saddled with more pollution, higher costs, and worse vehicles.”
The rollback is expected to increase costs for consumers at gas stations and may impact employment in the auto industry. Whitehouse also pointed out that these changes could reduce U.S. competitiveness internationally and lead to increased pollution.
