Donald Trump rolls back standards for water-using appliances, light bulbs

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (February 11) took steps to reinstate previous standards for light bulbs, toilets, showers, and other water-using appliances, reversing regulations set during the Biden administration.

The move comes a day after he signed an executive order promoting plastic straws and scrapping a policy aimed at reducing single-use plastics.

Trump announced his directive via his social media platform, instructing Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Lee Zeldin to reinstate his administration’s earlier policies on water flow and appliance efficiency.

“I am directing Secretary Zeldin to immediately restore my Environmental Orders on water standards and light bulbs that were reversed by Crooked Joe Biden,” Trump wrote, calling the regulations "common sense."

On Monday, Trump also signed an order encouraging government agencies and consumers to opt for plastic straws, part of a broader rollback of environmental policies enacted under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.

During his first term, Biden had introduced stricter energy-efficiency standards for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, which conservatives had challenged in court. With his latest orders, Trump aims to undo those restrictions, emphasising consumer choice over environmental mandates.

Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I am hereby instructing Secretary Lee Zeldin to immediately go back to my Environmental Orders, which were terminated by Crooked Joe Biden, on Water Standards and Flow pertaining to SINKS, SHOWERS, TOILETS, WASHING MACHINES, DISHWASHERS, etc., and to likewise go back to the common sense standards on LIGHTBULBS, that were put in place by the Trump Administration, but terminated by Crooked Joe. I look forward to signing these Orders. THANK YOU!!!”