Department of Energy Moves to Terminate Biden-Era Restrictions on Heating, AC, Appliances

The DOE is accepting public comments on the proposed rulemaking for 30 days following its publication in the Federal Register.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 7/2/2026, 3:52:06 PM EDT

Department of Energy Moves to Terminate Biden-Era Restrictions on Heating, AC, Appliances — Washing machines, dryers and other appliances are seen for sale at a store in a file photo. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

The federal government is acting to roll back decades of energy and water efficiency mandates on household appliances, with the Trump administration arguing the rules have long driven up prices and left Americans with products that simply don't perform.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Thursday it has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would permanently end appliance and equipment energy conservation standards. The proposed rule targets a wide range of products Americans use daily—including air conditioning units, gas stoves, washing machines, dryers, water heaters, and refrigerators.

The move builds on a broader deregulatory campaign the administration launched from its first day in office. According to a May 2025 White House press release, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum directing the DOE to review and rescind—or revert to minimum statutory standards—rules governing water use in showerheads, faucets, dishwashers, toilets, urinals, and washing machines. That same memorandum directed the agency to pause enforcement of those rules while rescissions are underway.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright framed the DOE proposal in blunt terms, saying past administrations had burdened consumers with mandates that forced them to run appliances multiple times to get results.

"In America, you should be able to choose a dryer that dries clothes on the first try rather than one that takes multiple cycles — unfortunately, past administrations thought otherwise," Wright said in Thursday’s announcement. "For too long, the American people paid the price for mandates that restricted consumer choice and drove up costs. President Trump promised to end this nonsense and that is exactly what we are doing. This proposed rule will preserve the American people's ability to choose home appliances and equipment that actually work—at prices they can afford. It's called common sense."

Audrey Robertson, the assistant secretary of energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, echoed those remarks, saying the proposal signals a new regulatory direction focused on affordability and transparency. "This proposal is about the future," Robertson said. "It will ensure that new regulations promote affordability, preserve consumer choice, and meet the highest standards for transparency and due diligence."

The White House has pointed to specific consumer harms it says resulted from prior standards. Ultra-efficient washing machines cost consumers at least $100 more, and updated dishwasher regulations caused those appliances to run for two hours or longer per cycle—roughly twice the time of older models.

The DOE is accepting public comments on the proposed rulemaking for 30 days following its publication in the Federal Register. A separate Request for Information on the methodologies used to develop energy conservation standards will be open for comment for 60 days after Federal Register publication.