Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Trump Claims 'Right To Repair' Victory That Really Just Tries To Defang CARB
Trump Claims 'Right To Repair' Victory That Really Just Tries To Defang CARB
BY JUSTIN HUGHES JULY 1, 2026 11:25 PM EST
Alex Wong/Getty Images
President Trump has signed a memorandum that many are reporting as a major Right to Repair win. Reading the memorandum itself, however, reveals that while it may have a few positive effects in that area, it's actually another attack on the California Air Resources Board (CARB), specifically its process of certifying aftermarket emissions-compliant parts.
The memo, titled "Lowering the Cost of Living by Promoting the Freedom to Fix," starts by claiming that the Biden Administration's "crushing environmental regulatory burdens caused the average cost of vehicles to soar." In reality, it was because of low supply during COVID-19, factory shutdowns, and supply chain issues not being able to keep up with the demand for new vehicles. It also claims that eliminating penalties for not meeting emissions regulations and spewing toxic fumes into the atmosphere for all of us to breathe is actually a good thing. Hyperbole aside, it then gets into what this memorandum is really about, and there's a lot to unpack here:
{snip}
BY JUSTIN HUGHES JULY 1, 2026 11:25 PM EST
Alex Wong/Getty Images
President Trump has signed a memorandum that many are reporting as a major Right to Repair win. Reading the memorandum itself, however, reveals that while it may have a few positive effects in that area, it's actually another attack on the California Air Resources Board (CARB), specifically its process of certifying aftermarket emissions-compliant parts.
The memo, titled "Lowering the Cost of Living by Promoting the Freedom to Fix," starts by claiming that the Biden Administration's "crushing environmental regulatory burdens caused the average cost of vehicles to soar." In reality, it was because of low supply during COVID-19, factory shutdowns, and supply chain issues not being able to keep up with the demand for new vehicles. It also claims that eliminating penalties for not meeting emissions regulations and spewing toxic fumes into the atmosphere for all of us to breathe is actually a good thing. Hyperbole aside, it then gets into what this memorandum is really about, and there's a lot to unpack here:
{snip}