Fact check: Did the EPA change fleet economy requirements under trump?

1. Summary of the results

The EPA has indeed made significant changes to fleet economy requirements both during Trump's first term and in the current administration. During Trump's first term, the EPA rolled back fuel efficiency standards, reducing fleet economy requirements from 54.5 mpg to 40.4 mpg in 2020 ^[1]. The changes were initially announced in 2017, when Trump promised to roll back Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards while speaking in Detroit ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• The current changes are part of a broader deregulation effort that extends beyond just fleet economy requirements ^[3]
• The changes are being implemented through multiple agencies:
• The EPA, now led by Lee Zeldin, is reconsidering rules that limit climate pollution ^[4]
• The Department of Transportation, under Secretary Sean Duffy, has ordered the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to propose rescission or replacement of existing CAFE standards ^{[5] [5]}
• These changes represent a reversal of Biden-era policies rather than entirely new regulations ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question oversimplifies a complex and ongoing process:

• It doesn't acknowledge that changes occurred in both Trump administrations
• Multiple stakeholders benefit from these changes:
• Auto manufacturers benefit from relaxed standards, as indicated by Trump's statement about making cars in America again ^[2]
• The current EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has promised "deregulatory decisions" ^[6], suggesting alignment with industry interests
• The changes are still in progress, with the EPA currently planning additional rollbacks ^[4] and likely to further weaken emissions standards ^[6]