Trump’s ‘Freedom to Fix’ Memo: Big Promises, Few Real Changes for Car Owners

Forget right to repair—the White House now wants Americans to have the ‘freedom to fix’ their own cars. The Trump administration issued a memorandum directing the EPA to study whether it should ease up on emissions tampering rules and parts certification requirements. But here’s the catch: the memo doesn’t actually change any current laws or regulations.

So while the language sounds bold, your next trip to the garage likely won’t feel any different.

The memo, titled ‘Lowering the Cost of Living by Promoting the Freedom to Fix,’ gives the EPA 30 days to clarify what individual car owners can legally do for emissions repairs. It also asks the agency to fast-track requests from companies that can test their own parts for Clean Air Act compliance.

And notably, Trump wants the EPA to ‘consider’ deprioritizing enforcement against individuals who try to restore their vehicle to its original configuration. But the law still bans tampering with emissions controls, and the EPA has long focused on commercial sellers of defeat devices, not weekend mechanics.

The timing is curious. ’ Ford CEO Jim Farley pushed back, saying the company supports affordable repairs but warns that modern vehicles can be dangerous to work on without proper training. For now, the memo is mostly a political statement. Removing a catalytic converter or EGR system remains illegal under the Clean Air Act—and only Congress can change that.

So hold off on celebrating until you see actual rule changes, not just suggestions.