Republicans are about to raise your fuel costs by 45% during an energy crisis

Key Points:

• The Department of Transportation is set to announce new fuel economy standards that would reduce the 2031 target average fuel economy from 50.4 mpg to 34.5 mpg, potentially raising average American fuel costs by more than 45%.
• These changes are expected to increase fuel costs by $185 billion and carbon emissions by 5%, worsening pollution and health outcomes amid already high global energy prices driven by ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
• Republicans have effectively nullified enforcement of existing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards by setting fines to $0, and the new proposed rollback represents an additional assault on fuel efficiency and consumer costs.
• The move is part of a broader pattern of regulatory rollbacks by Republican-led agencies, which critics argue benefit oil industry interests while harming public health, safety, and the environment.
• In addition to fuel economy rollbacks, the DOT under Sean Duffy has eliminated guidance on bike lanes and road safety, potentially increasing pedestrian and cyclist fatalities by up to 54%, raising concerns about public safety ahead of upcoming elections.