The trucking industry is facing uncertainty this year. With changes to emissions regulations, a new administration, and looming tariffs, the industry has a lot to consider and adjust to. After the Trump administration put a freeze on environmental funding and moved to undo previously set emission standards, there is a lot regarding advanced engines and the future of zero-emissions engines that is up in the air. 

Here are the top 3 things you should know about environmental funding to better understand the future of emissions trends in the construction industry. 

1) Fighting the EDF and EPA

The Trump administration has been not only hindering environmental protection action but it has pushed back at it. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has been working to protect the environment for the past 50 years and at the beginning of President Trump’s term, the EDF experienced extreme opposition.

Executive orders have been dished out against various environmental protections with the lawfulness and usefulness of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) being questioned. The current administration is proving to want to stop any climate or clean air protections so much so that scientific research is being challenged.

Much of the previously supported funding has been deemed wasteful. The Trump administration and the current EDF administrator, Lee Zeldin, have raised concerns that the funding award process was undermined.

2) Hesitation in Purchasing

The changes in emissions regulations under the new administration come with hesitance and apprehension for many companies and contractors. 2025 was marked as a turning point for many emissions laws as it was deemed the start of certain Not knowing whether or not to invest in the vehicles that had been the planned next steps under regulations up until this year.

Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Engine Technology Forum, said, “This year, 2025, is the beginning of what industry has long anticipated to be … a pre-buy year, and that is in anticipation of the new emissions milestone at the federal level —the 2027 EPA Omnibus NOx rule— and this was part of a California EPA agreement that they would have a singular new, tighter standard for … allowable emissions of nitrogen oxides from new engines starting in 2027.”

The industry is at a standstill regarding the fate of trucking and heavy-duty vehicle emissions. With progressive laws on pause, the future of lowered emissions remains unknown. Since the year is still new, it’s hard to know what the rest of the year in law-making and environmental protection will hold. 

“There is that uncertainty … about some of these rules that are restrictive in terms of what fleets can buy, weighing on this as well. It’s, I think, going to be a challenging time for purchasing conventional diesel and natural gas trucks just because of that whole situation,” said Schaeffer.

The uncertainty of the follow-through of previous regulations is gripping many industries, especially the construction and trucking industries. The manufacturing of lower-emission engines and vehicles could be paused as well since the purchasing of more advanced engines doesn’t look like it will be increasing any time soon.

3) A Lack of Support and Funding

The Trump administration has continued to strip away grants and funding supporting environmental research. This has been a major flip compared to the Biden administration’s heavy support and investments in climate and environment research and action.

“The last four years, we’ve seen an administration push very hard to invest in zero-emission technology trucks and the infrastructure to support [them], and it appears at this stage that the Trump administration is not going to continue that level of support of funding from the government,” said Schaeffer.

The nation has been pushing for more environmentally friendly vehicle options in recent years and without continued support from the government, there are a lot of questions popping up, with protections, movements, and groups held at an abrupt halt.

As the situation continues to progress and unfold, all aspects of the industry need to stay well-informed and aware of current and future affairs regarding the state of lowered emissions and advanced engines. This will allow the industry and its advancements to continue moving forward as smoothly as possible.