Donald Trump takes aim at more water and energy efficiency standards

The Verge - May 10th, 2025

Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the Department of Energy to consider rescinding or weakening regulations on water and energy efficiency for household appliances, including dishwashers, washing machines, showers, faucets, toilets, and urinals. This initiative is part of a broader effort to roll back policies aimed at saving Americans money through energy-efficient products, such as those certified by the Energy Star program. The memorandum also suggests halting the enforcement of these regulations until they are revised or rescinded, arguing that such federal regulations make taxpayers' lives more difficult.

The move has sparked criticism from energy efficiency advocates who argue that these standards protect consumers by ensuring access to products that meet efficiency norms, ultimately saving money and reducing environmental impact. The Trump administration's intention to dismantle the Energy Star program, as part of a larger reorganization at the EPA, raises concerns about increasing costs for consumers and the broader implications for environmental policy. Critics assert that changes to these regulations could undermine legislative efforts by Congress aimed at promoting energy efficiency, highlighting the significant impact of such policy reversals on environmental sustainability and consumer protection.

Donald Trump Consumer Protection Department Of Energy Energy Efficiency Energy Star Regulation Rollback

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RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and largely accurate account of President Trump's actions regarding energy and water efficiency standards. It effectively highlights the potential impacts on consumer costs and environmental standards, engaging with topics of significant public interest. However, the article's critical perspective may limit its balance, as it does not fully explore the potential benefits or perspectives of those supporting deregulation. The lack of diverse sourcing and transparency in attribution slightly undermines its credibility, though it remains clear and accessible to readers. Overall, the article succeeds in raising important questions and engaging with current policy debates, but it could benefit from a more balanced and transparent approach to enhance its impact and engagement.

Accuracy

The news story is largely accurate in its depiction of President Trump's actions regarding energy and water efficiency standards. It correctly states that Trump signed a memorandum to consider rescinding or weakening regulations for appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. This aligns with his administration's broader regulatory rollback agenda. However, the claim that the Energy Star program might be shuttered as part of an EPA reorganization is speculative and not confirmed in the text, which affects the precision of this assertion. The story accurately reflects the legal limitations of the president's authority to unilaterally rescind congressionally enacted standards, as noted by Andrew deLaski's quote. Overall, the story's factual claims are supported by external sources, but the speculative nature of some statements requires cautious interpretation.

Balance

The article presents a predominantly critical perspective on Trump's actions, emphasizing potential negative impacts such as increased consumer costs and the undermining of consumer protections. It includes quotes from critics like Andrew deLaski, providing a viewpoint that these actions could harm consumers. However, it lacks representation from supporters of the deregulation, such as industry representatives or Trump administration officials, which could provide a more balanced view. The story could benefit from including arguments that justify the deregulation efforts, such as potential benefits to manufacturers or arguments about regulatory overreach.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, providing a coherent narrative of the events and actions taken by President Trump. It uses straightforward language and logically presents the sequence of actions and potential implications. The inclusion of quotes helps to clarify the positions of critics and adds depth to the discussion. However, the article could be improved by clearly distinguishing between confirmed actions and speculative outcomes, which would enhance reader understanding.

Source quality

The story relies on credible sources, such as CNN and E&E News, for some of its claims. However, it does not directly attribute specific information to these sources, which could enhance the reliability of the reporting. The inclusion of a quote from a named expert, Andrew deLaski, adds credibility, but the article would be strengthened by more diverse sourcing, including official statements from the Trump administration or the Department of Energy. This would provide a more comprehensive view and help verify the claims made in the article.

Transparency

The article provides limited transparency in terms of sourcing and methodology. While it mentions reports from CNN and E&E News, it does not clearly attribute specific claims to these sources or provide links to original documents or statements. The lack of direct quotes from official documents or statements from the Trump administration reduces the transparency of the reporting. Additionally, the article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases that might affect the reporting, leaving readers to infer the basis of the claims made.