Trump Administration Rolls Back Appliance Efficiency Standards and Environmental Regulations

On May 9, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the Department of Energy to reconsider or rescind water and energy efficiency regulations on household appliances, including dishwashers, washing machines, showers, faucets, toilets, and urinals. This move is part of a broader effort to dismantle environmental and consumer protection policies established in previous administrations.

The memorandum advocates for pausing enforcement of current efficiency rules and recommends revising or repealing related laws. Critics argue these standards are important consumer protections that save money and energy, warning that removing them may increase consumer costs

In addition to targeting appliance standards, the Trump administration has proposed eliminating the Energy Star program, a 33-year-old energy efficiency certification for appliances such as refrigerators and dishwashers. The program has helped American consumers save more than $500 billion in energy costs

These actions have prompted legal challenges. On the same day as the memorandum's signing, fifteen Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit in federal court in Seattle against President Trump, seeking to block his national energy emergency declaration made on January 20. The lawsuit challenges the legality of Trump's executive order, which uses emergency powers to bypass standard permitting processes for oil and gas development projects.

The administration's efforts to roll back environmental regulations have also included the dismissal of three Democratic commissioners from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent agency responsible for protecting the public from hazardous products. The Trump administration plans to absorb the CPSC into the Department of Health and Human Services, creating a new office with reduced funding, pending congressional approval and potential legal challenges.

These developments reflect a significant shift in U.S. energy and environmental policy, with the Trump administration prioritizing deregulation and industry interests over established efficiency standards and environmental protections.