(The Lion) — The Trump administration is officially dropping the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) policies of the Biden administration, saving Americans “thousands of dollars” in the auto industry, President Donald Trump said in the Oval Office Wednesday.

“People were brainwashed. This is a green new scam, and people were paying too much for a car that didn’t work as well,” Trump said. “And, now they’re going to have a great car that’s going to be environmentally friendly, but it’s going to cost you a lot less, and it’s going to work great. All of the nonsense is being taken out of the cars.”

Trump said the typical consumer will save at least $1,000 off the price of a new car. Numerous companies, including Ford, General Motors and Stellantis – all with representatives present at the announcement – are investing a total of $70 billion in the American auto industry, Trump said.

CAFE standards are government regulations, first enacted in 1975, to standardize vehicles’ average fuel efficiency and lower emissions, Fox Business reported in a preview piece.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the Biden administration effectively raised the gas mileage standard to an “unattainable” 62 miles per gallon, ultimately raising the costs of vehicles.

By rolling back the Biden-era updates to CAFE standards, Duffy said the price of cars will become more affordable, and more cars will be produced.

“The more cars we sell, the more jobs we have in this country,” Duffy said. “This is jobs, this is freedom, and this is common sense.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, said preserving the auto industry saved countless jobs for Missourians, who will be “building the F-47s (fighter jets) and F150s.”

“We make things in Missouri,” Schmitt said. “This is going to go a long way, I think, for making things more affordable for normal people. Nothing could be more American than driving a car on a highway, and this is going to make that more accessible for people.”