Democrats Urge EPA Not to Reopen Review of Fuel Efficiency Rules

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and 11 other Democrats have said it is "critical" that the Trump Administration leave in place new fuel efficiency rules, stating that the standards are achievable. Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is expected to reopen a review of the fuel economy rules that were put in place by the Obama Administration for the 2022-2025 period.

Automakers say these changes, which would raise the average fleet fuel efficiency to over 50 miles-per-gallon by 2025, will impose significant costs and are not in line with what consumers are asking for. They say that they need more flexibility to meet these rules given the low price of gas.

"These automobile emissions standards are economically feasible and technologically achievable for the auto industry," the Democratic senators wrote in a letter to Pruitt. "It is critical that they remain in place." Several environmentalists have threatened to sue should the Trump Administration revise the current fuel economy standards.

EPA Spokeswoman Cathy Milbourn declined to comment on the letter "since the agency has not announced how it will proceed on the vehicle emission standards." 

The EPA has also been taking steps to reverse California's waiver under the Clean Air Act that allows state officials to set their own vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards. California has repeatedly vowed to vigorously contest any efforts to withdraw its authority, and in January the state hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to represent it.