NewsDonald Trump takes aim at more water and energy efficiency standardsFollowing plans to eliminate Energy Star, President Donald Trump moves to rollback water and energy standards, too.Following plans to eliminate Energy Star, President Donald Trump moves to rollback water and energy standards, too.by Justine CalmaMay 10, 2025, 12:56 AM UTCLinkFacebookThreadsImage: Laura Normand / The VergeJustine Calma is a senior science reporter covering energy and the environment with more than a decade of experience. She is also the host of Hell or High Water: When Disaster Hits Home, a podcast from Vox Media and Audible Originals.Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum Friday afternoon directing the Department of Energy to “consider using all lawful authority to rescind” or weaken regulations for water and energy efficiency for dishwashers and washing machines. The action also includes water use standards for showers, faucets, toilets, and urinals.It closes out a week of attacks on policies meant to save Americans money by incentivizing manufacturers to make products that save water and energy. Earlier in the week, CNN and E&E News reported that the Trump administration would shutter the Energy Star program as part of a “reorganization” planned at the Environmental Protection Agency.Energy Star certifies products for energy efficiency, allowing consumers to choose the most energy-efficient home appliances by spotting the recognizable blue Energy Star label. The rules President Trump is targeting now are actually consumer protections, meant to ensure that any customer can purchase something that meets reasonable efficiency standards.“Congress enacted these laws, the president can’t just decide that they’re going to go away.”A White House fact sheet says the Secretary of Energy should work with the Office of Legislative Affairs to make recommendations to Congress on any water pressure “or related energy efficiency laws” that ought to change or be repealed altogether.It also says the Secretary of Energy should pause enforcement of the rules mentioned in the memorandum until they’re rescinded or revised. “The Federal Government should not impose or enforce regulations that make taxpayers’ lives worse,” the presidential memorandum says.“It’ll only raise costs for consumers to get rid of these standards, if they get rid of these standards,” says Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “Congress enacted these laws, the president can’t just decide that they’re going to go away.”Trump also signed four bills approved through the Congressional Review Act undoing Biden-era efficiency standards for water heaters, refrigerators, walk-in coolers, and more. In April, the president signed an executive order to purportedly make “America’s showers great again” by rescinding an Obama-era definition of showerheads that raised efficiency standards. RelatedTrump cuts Energy Star program that saved households $450 a yearDonald Trump reignites the lightbulb warsSee More: EnergyEnvironmentNewsPolicyPoliticsRegulationScienceTechMost PopularMost PopularYou can now submit your claims for Apple’s $95 million Siri spying settlementNetflix is removing Black Mirror: BandersnatchApple is planning smart glasses with and without ARWhoop wants everyone to give a whoop about the new Whoop 5.0Palworld had to remove game features because of Nintendo lawsuitInstallerA weekly newsletter by David Pierce designed to tell you everything you need to download, watch, read, listen to, and explore that fits in The Verge’s universe.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad
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