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

The Department of Transportation is preparing to roll back federal fuel economy standards for new cars. These rules, known as CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy), require automakers to keep their vehicle lineups efficient on average or pay fines. The new plan would lower the 2031 fuel economy target from 50.4 miles per gallon to 34.5 miles per gallon. That drop means new vehicles built to the weaker standard would burn roughly 45 percent more fuel to travel the same distance, raising what drivers spend at the pump. The federal transportation safety agency estimates the change would add $185 billion in fuel costs nationally and increase carbon emissions by 5 percent. A separate Department of Energy analysis found related rollbacks could push gas prices up by 76 cents a gallon.

This comes as global energy prices are already elevated. Congress had earlier reduced CAFE fines to zero, meaning the standards already go largely unenforced, so this new rule would formalize what has been happening in practice. More than 68,000 public comments were filed on the proposal, with most opposing it.

For homeowners, this is mainly a heads-up on the direction of federal fuel policy rather than a change you need to act on right away. If you drive a gas-powered vehicle, it points toward higher fuel costs ahead rather than lower ones, which is worth factoring in if you are weighing a switch to an electric vehicle or charging one at home with solar.