Trump Administration Delays Biden-Era Appliance Efficiency Standards

The Energy and Environmental Protection Departments announced postponements and rollbacks of regulations, citing consumer choice and cost concerns.

The Department of Energy postponed seven efficiency mandates for appliances such as air conditioners, washing machines, and lightbulbs, originally introduced under the Biden administration.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to revise its WaterSense program, which labels water-efficient products, claiming current standards encourage low-quality options.
Officials from both agencies argued that the changes will reduce costs and expand consumer choice for American households.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the administration will create a new energy efficiency category exempting certain natural gas tankless water heaters from existing rules.
The Biden administration previously emphasized that the efficiency standards would save consumers money and reduce emissions, but Trump officials argue the rules are burdensome and limit product availability.