President Donald Trump grants full pardons to nine people convicted of federal Clean Air Act violations involving diesel vehicle emissions control systems. Multiple outlets report that the recipients were linked to conduct such as bypassing, disabling, modifying, or removing emissions equipment, or selling aftermarket devices intended to get around emissions controls on vehicles. The White House describes the pardons as intended to “relieve consumers” of burdensome emissions-related requirements and says some recipients acted in “good faith” to reduce expensive repairs tied to emissions equipment. Several reports also say Trump defends the individuals on political grounds, stating they were punished or “persecuted” under the Biden administration and characterizing their actions as “fixing their car.”
Other coverage places the clemency within a broader pattern of pardons and environmental policy changes reported in recent months, including deregulation steps affecting greenhouse gas findings and federal tailpipe emissions standards. In addition to the nine diesel tuners, some outlets also report Trump pardons other individuals, including a former business partner of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, as part of the same clemency actions.
