Project 2025 Tracker / What’s done, what’s next

Section 3 · The General Welfare

19 Department of Transportation

619–640 · Diana Furchtgott-Roth

  • 7 done
  • 11 partially done
  • 5 attempted
  • 30 not started

Major recommendations (7)

What has happened

The Mandate said

“Reduce proposed fuel economy levels. The Administration should consider returning to the minimum average fuel economy levels specified by Congress for model year 2020 vehicles: levels aimed at achieving a fleet-wide average of 35 miles per gallon.”

What happened

Done

NHTSA published the SAFE Vehicles Rule III as a final rule (91 FR 61988, RIN 2127-AM76), which "finalizes amendments to fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles for model years 2022-2026 and MYs 2027-2031" and describes itself as "substantially recalibrating" the CAFE program. The proposal it finalizes projected a fleet-wide average of about 34.5 mpg in MY 2031, the 35-mpg level the Quote names. The final rule keeps that level. NHTSA "estimates that the final standards would correspond to a combined industry fleetwide average of roughly 34.9 mpg in MY 2031". It takes effect 2026-11-30. The full text was read on 2026-10-01.

The Mandate said

“Revoke the special waiver granted to California by the Biden Administration. California has no valid basis under the Clean Air Act to claim an extraordinary or unique air quality impact from carbon dioxide emissions, and EPCA is clear that under no circumstances may a state agency regulate fuel economy in place of DOT.”

What happened

Done

EPA went beyond the Biden-era waivers and transmitted four older California waivers (Advanced Clean Cars I, its 2022 reinstatement, small off-road engines, and the 2009-and-later greenhouse-gas standards) to Congress as CRA rules; disapproval resolutions were introduced in July–August 2026 (H.J.Res. 202, 205, 211, 212; S.J.Res. 206–208) but none had passed by 2026-08-26. California sued again on 2026-06-22 (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-02185).

The Mandate said

“The federal government should therefore exercise its preemptive authority over CARB and take all steps necessary to invalidate any inconsistent fuel economy requirements imposed by CARB, including its ban on sales of internal combustion engines.”

What happened

Partially done

DOJ, on behalf of NHTSA, sued CARB in the Eastern District of California (2:26-cv-00847) arguing that California's vehicle rules are state fuel-economy requirements preempted by EPCA — the Mandate's exact theory. No judgment yet; CARB's rules have not been invalidated by a court.

The Mandate said

“Reduce proposed fuel economy levels. The Administration should consider returning to the minimum average fuel economy levels specified by Congress for model year 2020 vehicles: levels aimed at achieving a fleet-wide average of 35 miles per gallon.”

What happened

Partially done

NHTSA proposed the SAFE Vehicles Rule III, rewriting standards for MY 2022–2031 to a projected fleet-wide average of roughly 34.5 mpg in MY 2031 — the 35-mpg level the Mandate names. Comment period extended to 2026-02-04; no final rule published as of 2026-08-26.

The Mandate said

“The federal government should therefore exercise its preemptive authority over CARB and take all steps necessary to invalidate any inconsistent fuel economy requirements imposed by CARB, including its ban on sales of internal combustion engines.”

What happened

Partially done

DOJ filed complaints against CARB in the Eastern District of California and Northern District of Illinois to stop enforcement of the heavy-duty standards through the "Clean Truck Partnership", and a parallel Ninth Circuit filing on CARB's light-duty rules — the first federal enforcement of preemption against CARB.

Still to come

Executive action 15

  1. 631 Establish a New Entry Initiative deciding new air carrier applications in 12 months Notable Not started
  2. 631 Initiate a rulemaking on airport slot-pair allocation Notable Not started
  3. 631 Relax the 1,500-hour copilot rule or allow certified simulator training to count Notable Not started
  4. 635 Restore the original intent of Section 10(c) of the Urban Mass Transportation Act Notable Not started
  5. 636 Drop FRA's proposed two-person train crew size rule Notable Not started
  6. 636 Amend FRA's 50-year-old track inspection requirements to allow new technology Notable Not started
  7. 622 Require BAB project sponsors to show economic value and commit equity Minor Not started
  8. 622 Require BAB projects to show repayment ability across interest rate scenarios Minor Not started
  9. 623 Conduct regular cost-benefit analysis of federal infrastructure lending Minor Not started
  10. 626 Make the case to reclaim 5.9 GHz spectrum for transportation safety and ITS Minor Not started
  11. 630 Publicly support joint ventures by smaller air carriers Minor Not started
  12. 630 Review airline foreign ownership and control limits, changing statutes if needed Minor Not started
  13. 632 Get the FAA out of the research and development business Minor Not started
  14. 633 Promote FAA top executives from within and set strict requirements for appointees Minor Not started
  15. 637 Award FRA research dollars on the merits, not to prop up the Pueblo TTC Minor Not started

Needs Congress 15

  1. 621 Abolish DOT's discretionary grant-making and fund states by formula Major Not started
  2. 633 Separate the FAA from DOT, or at minimum the ATO from the FAA Major Not started
  3. 638 Transfer MARAD and the Merchant Marine Academy out of DOT to DHS or DOD Major Not started
  4. 638 Repeal or substantially reform the Jones Act Major Not started
  5. 621 Send federal transportation grants to the 50 states to spend as they choose Notable Not started
  6. 631 End the Essential Air Service program Notable Not started
  7. 633 Restructure the FAA's funding system off annual appropriations Notable Not started
  8. 634 Separate the ATO from the FAA and move its headquarters out of Washington Notable Not started
  9. 634 Replace aviation user taxes with fees paid directly to the ATO Notable Not started
  10. 634 Allow the ATO to issue long-term revenue bonds Notable Not started
  11. 635 Redefine public transit as transit provided for the public, not by a municipality Notable Not started
  12. 636 End Highway Trust Fund transfers that prop up mass transit Notable Not started
  13. 636 Remove federal subsidies for transit spending Notable Not started
  14. 622 Consolidate the number of DOT grant programs Minor Not started
  15. 634 Set a deadline barring ATO funding of new nondigital control towers Minor Not started

All recommendations in this chapter

Every recommendation this chapter is the home of, in printed-page order.

  1. 621 Abolish DOT's discretionary grant-making and fund states by formula Needs Congress Not started
  2. 621 Send federal transportation grants to the 50 states to spend as they choose Needs Congress Not started
  3. 622 Consolidate the number of DOT grant programs Needs Congress Not started
  4. 622 Revive the Trump-era “rule on rules” regulation (RIN 2105-AE84) Done
  5. 622 Require Build America Bureau borrowers to be rated investment grade Done
  6. 622 Require BAB project sponsors to show economic value and commit equity Not started
  7. 622 Require BAB projects to show repayment ability across interest rate scenarios Not started
  8. 623 Conduct regular cost-benefit analysis of federal infrastructure lending Not started
  9. 625 Have NHTSA update vehicle standards and issue performance-based AV rules Attempted
  10. 625 Have FMCSA align its regulations with DOT's AV 3.0 guidance Attempted
  11. 625 Reverse the Standing General Order mandating automated vehicle data reporting Partially done
  12. 626 Make the case to reclaim 5.9 GHz spectrum for transportation safety and ITS Not started
  13. 628 Reduce CAFE standards to the model year 2020 level of 35 mpg fleet-wide Done
  14. 628 Restore DOT primacy over fuel economy standards against EPA CO2 rules Done
  15. 629 Revoke California's Clean Air Act waiver Done
  16. 629 Preempt CARB and invalidate its ban on internal combustion engine sales Partially done
  17. 629 Refocus the FHWA on maintaining and improving the highway system Partially done
  18. 629 Remove or reform FHWA rules that hamper state governments Partially done
  19. 629 Reduce federal involvement in local infrastructure decisions Partially done
  20. 630 Restore the Trump rule on “unfair and deceptive practices” airline rulemaking Done
  21. 630 Publicly support joint ventures by smaller air carriers Not started
  22. 630 Review airline foreign ownership and control limits, changing statutes if needed Not started
  23. 631 Establish a New Entry Initiative deciding new air carrier applications in 12 months Not started
  24. 631 Initiate a rulemaking on airport slot-pair allocation Not started
  25. 631 Relax the 1,500-hour copilot rule or allow certified simulator training to count Not started
  26. 631 End the Essential Air Service program Needs Congress Not started
  27. 631 Bar foreign carriers using Russian airspace from advantage on U.S. routes Attempted
  28. 631 Withhold new aviation negotiations with China until it honors existing accords Done
  29. 632 Establish an interagency clearinghouse on spectrum, drones, and air mobility Partially done
  30. 632 Get the FAA out of the research and development business Not started
  31. 633 Promote FAA top executives from within and set strict requirements for appointees Not started
  32. 633 Separate the FAA from DOT, or at minimum the ATO from the FAA Needs Congress Not started
  33. 633 Restructure the FAA's funding system off annual appropriations Needs Congress Not started
  34. 633 Require the FAA to operate more like a business Partially done
  35. 634 Separate the ATO from the FAA and move its headquarters out of Washington Needs Congress Not started
  36. 634 Replace aviation user taxes with fees paid directly to the ATO Needs Congress Not started
  37. 634 Allow the ATO to issue long-term revenue bonds Needs Congress Not started
  38. 634 Impose user fees on unconventional airspace users Needs Congress Partially done
  39. 634 Set a deadline barring ATO funding of new nondigital control towers Needs Congress Not started
  40. 635 Redefine public transit as transit provided for the public, not by a municipality Needs Congress Not started
  41. 635 Require every CIG project to pass a rigorous cost-benefit analysis Partially done
  42. 635 Restore the original intent of Section 10(c) of the Urban Mass Transportation Act Not started
  43. 636 End Highway Trust Fund transfers that prop up mass transit Needs Congress Not started
  44. 636 Remove federal subsidies for transit spending Needs Congress Not started
  45. 636 Drop FRA's proposed two-person train crew size rule Not started
  46. 636 Amend FRA's 50-year-old track inspection requirements to allow new technology Not started
  47. 636 Finalize FRA's rulemaking modernizing brake inspection requirements Partially done
  48. 637 Drop FRA certification requirements for dispatchers and signal employees Attempted
  49. 637 Drop FRA's planned emergency escape breathing apparatus requirement Attempted
  50. 637 Award FRA research dollars on the merits, not to prop up the Pueblo TTC Not started
  51. 638 Transfer MARAD and the Merchant Marine Academy out of DOT to DHS or DOD Needs Congress Not started
  52. 638 Repeal or substantially reform the Jones Act Needs Congress Not started
  53. 638 Expand the Defense Reserve Fleet to cover fleet capacity without the Jones Act Needs Congress Partially done