Ernst, Trump Administration Announce Rollback of Green New Deal Diesel Regulations

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in announcing new regulatory guidance on Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) systems that is expected to save family farms hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

The updated guidance undoes Green New Deal-inspired regulations that remotely brought tractors, trucks, and other diesel vehicles to a halt when DEF levels were low, causing vehicles to be stranded on the highway or out in the field and leading to lost productivity and headaches for farmers, truckers, and small business owners.

“No farmer should ever have their tractor literally brought to a halt in the middle of a field because of a Green New Deal style regulation from Washington,” said Ernst. “The previous arbitrary diesel exhaust fluid system guidelines severely hurt farmers, truckers, and small businesses that rely on diesel powered trucks. Not only will the new guidelines save family-run farms hundreds of millions every year, but it is also simply common sense.”

“We have heard loud and clear from small businesses across the United States that the current DEF system is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that farmers, truckers, construction workers, and many other small businesses continually experience failures of diesel-powered equipment when they need it most—costing millions of dollars in lost productivity,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “Today, we are responding to those concerns by calling on manufacturers to take action to update their software and eliminate the unnecessary sudden loss of power and frustrating shutdowns that too many Americans have experienced.”

“The Trump Administration is fighting for farmers and truckers, as evidenced by the EPA’s new DEF guidance which is a big win for the millions of small businesses who rely on diesel engines - and who have been crushed by years of costly Green New Scam regulations,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “This change will save family farms an estimated $727 million per year and offers vital financial and operational certainty. I’m proud to work alongside EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to reduce red tape for our nation’s producers and deliver real relief for hardworking Americans."

“This is yet another example of President Trump’s cabinet working hand in hand to cut absurd and wasteful government regulations that tie the hands of our farmers, ranchers, and small business owners,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. This common sense reform will allow our agricultural producers to spend more time in the fields than in the repair shop. On behalf of farmers and ranchers across America, I want to thank Administrator Zeldin for taking this historic action today. This is on top of the Trump Administration’s actions to support biofuels more than any other administration in the history of our country, putting our corn and soybean farmers first.”

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