★ Government Action
Trump order ends EV mandates and state emissions waivers
Climate Policy RollbackDeregulationFossil Fuel Deregulation
Filed January 2025
★ The Brief
What happened
The same January 20, 2025 order directed agencies to dismantle what it called the "EV mandate," ending federal electric-vehicle targets, moving to revoke the California waivers that let states limit gasoline-car sales, and weighing repeal of EV subsidies.
Who enabled it
Who benefits
Deal or steal?
Sustained gasoline demand is worth billions to the oil majors that funded Trump's return, including Exxon's $1M inaugural gift; the same order's reconsideration of the 2009 climate endangerment finding attacks tailpipe rules from the other direction.
The 'Unleashing American Energy' executive order signed January 20, 2025, directed federal agencies to eliminate what it termed the 'electric vehicle (EV) mandate' by removing regulatory barriers to motor vehicle access, ensuring a level regulatory playing field for consumer vehicle choice, and terminating, where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles. The order further directed consideration of eliminating EV subsidies and other government-imposed market mechanisms that favor EVs over other vehicle technologies.
Actors
Who pushed it · 1Who initiated, paid, or pushed the action.
Donald TrumpDirected agencies to eliminate EV mandates, remove related regulatory barriers, terminate state emissions waivers limiting gasoline vehicle sales, and consider eliminating EV subsidies.
Sector-wide beneficiaries
- Fossil Fuels
Ends federal EV mandates and state emissions waivers, sustaining demand for gasoline-powered vehicles and the fossil fuels that power them.
Sector-aligned organizations that have paid into Trump’s orbit:
Individuals from these organizations who have personally paid into Trump’s orbit:
Further reading
- ★ Government ActionFebruary 2025Trump creates National Energy Dominance Council chaired by Burgum
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Trump order directs agencies to rescind energy-burdening regulations
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Trump revokes twelve Biden climate and environmental orders
- ★ Government ActionOctober 2025Interior reopens 1.56-million-acre ANWR Coastal Plain to oil and gas leasing
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Trump restarts stalled natural gas export approvals paused by Biden
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Trump order directs EPA to reconsider 2009 endangerment finding