Chairman Capito Applauds White House’s Ending of CAFE Standards for American Cars

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, praised the Trump administration’s decision to overturn Biden-era Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards for American vehicles.
The CAFE Standards, finalized under the Biden administration, required automakers to steadily increase fuel efficiency and accelerate the transition toward electric vehicles, with a target of widespread EV adoption by model year 2031. The Trump administration’s reversal effectively halts those requirements, marking a significant policy shift in federal transportation and environmental regulation.
Senator Capito said the rollback would ease financial burdens on consumers and preserve choice in the auto market. “The CAFE Standards—like the tailpipe rule that the Trump EPA has reversed and the California EV waiver that I worked hard to overturn—placed unnecessary burdens and higher prices on consumers,” Capito stated. She argued that Democrats have pursued multiple avenues, including state legislation and federal regulations, to push a transition to electric vehicles that many Americans are reluctant to purchase.
Capito applauded the administration’s move, saying it prioritizes affordability and consumer preference over mandates. The announcement comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle environmental rules tied to vehicle emissions and fuel economy, including reversing California’s authority to set stricter EV requirements and rolling back federal tailpipe emissions standards.
The decision is expected to spark debate between supporters who view the rollback as a win for consumer choice and critics who argue it undermines efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.