Trump’s Attack on Clean Vehicle Pollution Standards Could Harm Economy, Jobs: Environmental Defense Fund

President Trump issued executive orders attacking the nation’s clean vehicle pollution standards, California’s bedrock Clean Air Act legal authority, and policies that support hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs.

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Sanchai AdobeStock_955254737

President Trump issued executive orders attacking the nation’s clean vehicle pollution standards, California’s bedrock Clean Air Act legal authority, and policies that support hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs.

“The President’s actions will undermine investments, jobs and affordability for electric vehicles – all while allowing more climate and health-harming pollution into our air,” says Peter Zalzal, AVP for clean air strategies at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

 

Key takeaways:

  •  In the last two years, since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed, manufacturers have announced nearly $200 billion in investments in U.S. electric and battery manufacturing with almost 195,000 associated new jobs. The vast majority of the investments – more than 80% – are in districts represented by Republican Members of Congress. President Trump’s executive order could put those investments and jobs in jeopardy.
  • EDF analysis, based on data from Atlas Public Policy, shows that U.S. electric vehicle-related investments in the past three years have surged ahead of electric vehicle investments in China. Since 2021, the United States has attracted almost four times as much investment as in the previous five years, more than any other region in the world.
  • EDF analysis found many currently popular or widely anticipated models provide their owners with up to $27,000 in savings in fuel and maintenance over the first 10 years compared to a similar gasoline vehicle. Those electric cars have also been rapidly declining in price, accelerated by up to $7,500 in point-of-sale rebates for new cars provided by Congress.
  • The executive order will also result in an increase in climate pollution. EPA estimates the protective clean car and freight truck standards adopted in 2024 will prevent 8 billion metric tons of climate pollution from getting into the air through 2055. That’s more than the total U.S. emissions last year. 
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