EPA proposes to loosen requirements for truck pollution controls
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The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it is proposing to loosen requirements for pollution controls that rein in emissions from heavy duty trucks.
The administration said the technical changes are expected to allow for more flexibility for truck companies, when compared to a Biden-era rule.
The move is also expected to undermine some of the Biden rule’s pollution protections.
In particular, the Trump administration is proposing to shorten the amount of time that engine manufacturers have to guarantee that pollution controls will work.
The Biden administration extended this warranty from 100,000 miles to 450,000 miles. The Trump administration is revising it back down to 100,000 miles.
In a recent Hill op-ed, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assistant administrator Aaron Szabo said that this change would reduce compliance costs by up to 50 percent.
It is retaining other parts of the Biden-era rule, namely its strict emissions requirements for new engines. The EPA estimates that the shorter warranty would reduce the effectiveness of federal limits by 12 percent in the year 2055.
In addition, the Trump administration is proposing to delay an increase in the amount of time that emissions standards actually apply to truck engines.
Under the Biden-era rule, starting in model year 2027, trucks would have to meet emissions standards for the first 650,000 miles they travel, up from 435,000 miles previously.
The Trump administration is proposing to delay this increase by three years, not applying it until model year 2030. Its proposal also floats scrapping the time increase entirely, saying it was seeking comment on that as well.
Overall, the administration said that the changes it is proposing would save the industry $12 billion or about $6,000 per new truck.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said that the move could reduce costs for consumers as well.
“Even if you’ve never driven a truck in your life, when it costs less to move goods, it costs less to buy them. Those savings get passed down to you at the grocery store, the hardware store on nearly everything a truck delivers,” Zeldin said during an event at President Trump’s Great American State Fair.
The rule in question was updated under the Biden administration for the first time in 20 years. It aimed to cut heavy-duty trucks’ emissions of a type of pollution known as nitrogen oxides, which can worsen respiratory health.
The Biden EPA said that the warranty change, which the Trump administration is now proposing to revoke, was aimed at ensuring that engines are properly maintained and repaired over a longer period and would reduce the likelihood of tampering.
Nitrogen oxides, particularly nitrogen dioxide, can get into the air due to emissions from vehicles and power plants.
Long-term exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide may contribute to the development of asthma and make people more susceptible to respiratory infections.
In addition, these gases can form acid rain when they react with water and oxygen in the air. This acid rain can harm lakes and forests.
Environmental advocates said that the administration’s move would mean worse health outcomes for Americans.
“This Trump EPA proposal to weaken vital clean air protections will mean more health harms and higher costs in communities across the country,” said Peter Zalzal, associate vice president for clean air strategies at Environmental Defense Fund, in a written statement.
The Trump administration has broadly sought to loosen restrictions on vehicles, including repealing climate standards for cars and trucks.
Updated at 3:02 p.m. EDT
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗ · NPR ↗
The Trump administration announced proposed changes to heavy-duty truck pollution control standards that would reduce manufacturer compliance requirements. The proposal shortens the warranty period for pollution control systems from 450,000 miles (set under the Biden administration) to 100,000 miles, and delays by three years a requirement for trucks to maintain emissions standards over longer distances. The administration estimates these changes would reduce industry compliance costs by up to 50 percent and save approximately $12 billion total, or $6,000 per new truck. The EPA maintains that new engines would still meet strict emissions limits under this proposal, though the agency projects the shorter warranty would reduce overall effectiveness of federal pollution limits by 12 percent in 2055. The Biden-era rule had been the first update to heavy-duty truck emissions standards in 20 years and targeted nitrogen oxides, which contribute to respiratory illness and acid rain formation. Environmental advocates argue the changes would worsen public health outcomes.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗ · NPR ↗
Skip to content
The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it is proposing to loosen requirements for pollution controls that rein in emissions from heavy duty trucks.
The administration said the technical changes are expected to allow for more flexibility for truck companies, when compared to a Biden-era rule.
The move is also expected to undermine some of the Biden rule’s pollution protections.
In particular, the Trump administration is proposing to shorten the amount of time that engine manufacturers have to guarantee that pollution controls will work.
The Biden administration extended this warranty from 100,000 miles to 450,000 miles. The Trump administration is revising it back down to 100,000 miles.
In a recent Hill op-ed, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assistant administrator Aaron Szabo said that this change would reduce compliance costs by up to 50 percent.
It is retaining other parts of the Biden-era rule, namely its strict emissions requirements for new engines. The EPA estimates that the shorter warranty would reduce the effectiveness of federal limits by 12 percent in the year 2055.
In addition, the Trump administration is proposing to delay an increase in the amount of time that emissions standards actually apply to truck engines.
Under the Biden-era rule, starting in model year 2027, trucks would have to meet emissions standards for the first 650,000 miles they travel, up from 435,000 miles previously.
The Trump administration is proposing to delay this increase by three years, not applying it until model year 2030. Its proposal also floats scrapping the time increase entirely, saying it was seeking comment on that as well.
Overall, the administration said that the changes it is proposing would save the industry $12 billion or about $6,000 per new truck.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said that the move could reduce costs for consumers as well.
“Even if you’ve never driven a truck in your life, when it costs less to move goods, it costs less to buy them. Those savings get passed down to you at the grocery store, the hardware store on nearly everything a truck delivers,” Zeldin said during an event at President Trump’s Great American State Fair.
The rule in question was updated under the Biden administration for the first time in 20 years. It aimed to cut heavy-duty trucks’ emissions of a type of pollution known as nitrogen oxides, which can worsen respiratory health.
The Biden EPA said that the warranty change, which the Trump administration is now proposing to revoke, was aimed at ensuring that engines are properly maintained and repaired over a longer period and would reduce the likelihood of tampering.
Nitrogen oxides, particularly nitrogen dioxide, can get into the air due to emissions from vehicles and power plants.
Long-term exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide may contribute to the development of asthma and make people more susceptible to respiratory infections.
In addition, these gases can form acid rain when they react with water and oxygen in the air. This acid rain can harm lakes and forests.
Environmental advocates said that the administration’s move would mean worse health outcomes for Americans.
“This Trump EPA proposal to weaken vital clean air protections will mean more health harms and higher costs in communities across the country,” said Peter Zalzal, associate vice president for clean air strategies at Environmental Defense Fund, in a written statement.
The Trump administration has broadly sought to loosen restrictions on vehicles, including repealing climate standards for cars and trucks.
Updated at 3:02 p.m. EDT
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗ · NPR ↗
The Trump administration proposed changes to heavy-duty truck pollution control requirements on Thursday. The proposal reduces engine pollution control warranties from 450,000 miles to 100,000 miles, reverting from the Biden administration's extension. The proposal delays until model year 2030 a requirement that trucks meet emissions standards for 650,000 miles, originally scheduled to begin in 2027. The EPA estimates the shorter warranty would reduce compliance costs by up to 50 percent and save the industry $12 billion, approximately $6,000 per truck. The EPA projects the changes would reduce the effectiveness of federal emissions limits by 12 percent by 2055. The proposal maintains strict emissions requirements for new engines. Nitrogen oxides from vehicle emissions can worsen respiratory health and contribute to acid rain formation. The Biden administration had extended the warranty to ensure proper engine maintenance over longer vehicle lifespans and reduce tampering. The technical changes are expected to allow more flexibility for truck companies. Cost savings from reduced compliance will be passed down to consumers at retail. The administration's move would mean worse health outcomes for Americans.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗ · NPR ↗
- The Trump administration proposed loosening pollution control requirements for heavy-duty trucks, including reducing engine warranty periods from 450,000 to 100,000 miles and delaying stricter emissions standards by three years.
- The EPA estimates these changes would reduce compliance costs by up to 50 percent for manufacturers and save the industry $12 billion overall, or about $6,000 per truck.
- The proposal maintains strict emissions limits for new engines but weakens long-term pollution control durability, with the EPA projecting a 12 percent reduction in effectiveness by 2055.
- Nitrogen oxides from trucks contribute to respiratory health problems and acid rain; the Biden rule had extended warranty periods to ensure proper maintenance and reduce tampering.