Trump targeting showerheads, LED light bulbs in next environmental order
Close up of a showerhead running water. Getty Images
Just one day after signing an executive order against paper straws, President Donald Trump is taking aim next at some high-efficiency household items.
Trump posted Tuesday morning to his personal social media platform, Truth Social, that he was directing Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Lee Zeldin to roll back standards for water-using appliances and lightbulbs.
What they're saying:
Trump said in the post that his standards for these household items were "common sense standards" previously put in place by his administration, but terminated by the Biden administration.
"I look forward to signing these orders," he said.
RELATED: Trump signs executive order against paper straws after saying they ‘don’t work’
Trump showerhead executive order
The backstory:
Since 1992, federal energy law has outlined appliance standards that determine new showerheads shouldn’t pour out more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. The Obama administration refined the restrictions and applied those limits to the water that comes out of the entire showerhead, even ones with several nozzles.
During the first Trump administration, the president relaxed that to allow each nozzle of a showerhead spray as much as 2.5 gallons.
The Biden administration reversed Trump’s action in 2021.
Trump made comments throughout his first presidency that he wasn’t getting wet enough because of limits on water flow in the shower and that it was affecting his hair style.
The other side:
The standards that Trump is looking to roll back are intended to make dishwashers, showerheads, refrigerators, laundry machines, toilets and the like use less energy and water.
The higher-efficiency appliances can have higher upfront costs, but they save water and electricity, and can save Americans money through lower energy bills.
RELATED: What to know about Trump's interests in Greenland, Panama Canal
What's next:
Secretary Zeldin is due to respond to Trump’s request to roll back the environmental orders. Or, Trump could consider taking executive action.
In the meantime, there are no requirements telling consumers exactly what appliances or fixtures to purchase.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a Feb. 11, 2025, Truth Social post by Donald J. Trump. Background information on the showerhead executive orders was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.