The Trump administration has moved to cut longstanding federal programs that support cities transitioning away from diesel vehicles, raising concerns from public health advocates and clean energy industry leaders.
Brian Dabbs reports for E&E News.
In short:
- The GOP-led budget passed by Congress eliminates funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and a Department of Energy (DOE) program supporting cleaner municipal fleets, including school buses and delivery trucks.
- Clean Cities and Communities coalitions, which have supported electric, biodiesel, and propane vehicle deployment for over 30 years, say contract delays and funding shortfalls are already forcing staffing and program cuts.
- Advocates warn that losing these programs will undermine efforts to cut air pollution, particularly in communities that suffer from diesel-related health problems like asthma.
Key quote:
“A lot of this stuff has been caught up in the political discourse. At the end of the day, people care about reducing pollution. Everyone wants to breathe clean air.”
— Antoine Thompson, CEO and executive director, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition
Why this matters:
Diesel exhaust is a well-documented public health hazard, linked to asthma, heart disease, and early death, particularly in low-income and minority communities near highways, ports, and industrial centers. Federal programs like DERA and Clean Cities have helped cities replace aging diesel fleets with cleaner alternatives — often electric, propane, or biodiesel — while supporting a growing clean vehicle industry in states like Alabama and Texas. Slashing these programs could stall progress in reducing transportation emissions, which make up the largest share of U.S. greenhouse gases. It also threatens local economic development tied to clean energy jobs and manufacturing, placing public health and climate goals at risk as political priorities shift.
Read more: Trump administration redirects clean energy funds in defiance of Congress
