DOJ ends its crackdown on drivers who remove diesel emissions controls. The pollution impact will equal 9 million trucks [View all]

Source: The Independent

Tuesday 23 June 2026 17:59 EDT


The Department of Justice has ended its criminal crackdown on mechanics and garage owners who remove emissions control systems from diesel trucks. The decision marks a major U.S. policy shift, halting a yearslong federal effort to prosecute the sale and installation of illegal “defeat devices” used to boost vehicle performance, The New York Times reports.

In an announcement shared on X earlier this year, the Justice Department stated it was “exercising its enforcement discretion” to stop pursuing criminal charges. The post, which received minimal attention outside the automotive sector, stated that the department was “committed to sound enforcement principles, efficient use of government resources, and avoiding over-criminalization of federal environmental law.”

Though federal authorities stated they would continue to pursue civil lawsuits and financial penalties, the sudden policy shift has immediately affected ongoing criminal cases across the country, prompting prosecutors to drop active charges.

The change aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to scale back clean-air regulations, which officials argue place an unnecessary financial burden on businesses.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/doj-diesel-trucks-pollution-end-prosecutions-b3001271.html