Trump orders his administration to repeal Biden showerhead flow restrictions

President Trump on Wednesday ordered his administration to repeal a Biden-era rule restricting water flow from shower heads.

“In my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair,” Trump said, saying he lets the water run for 15 minutes. 

The order he issued directs the Energy Department to publish a notice rescinding the regulation. 

It directs the department to skip steps in the typical rulemaking process “because I am ordering the repeal.” If the department does so, it could spur legal challenges because the typical public notice and comment period is being skipped. 

Trump has long-lamented Democratic efficiency rules on household appliances, including showerheads, and has complained they restrict consumer choice. 

The Biden administration said that its rule would save consumers money and benefit the environment.  

Trump’s move is not necessarily a surprise. In a Day 1 executive order, the president previously said it is U.S. policy to “safeguard the American people’s freedom to choose from a variety of goods and appliances, including but not limited to lightbulbs, dishwashers, washing machines, gas stoves, water heaters, toilets, and shower heads.”

Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, which advocates for efficiency standards, said Trump’s order is aimed at a problem that doesn’t exist.

“There were some lousy showerheads back in the 1990s, but today, review after review finds there are countless models that provide a great drenching. So there isn’t a problem to be solved here with the showerheads available today,” deLaski said in a written statement. “It sounds like the administration is gearing up to do the same gimmick they did last time, where they’ll specifically allow products with many nozzles in a manner designed to get around the 1992 law. No major showerhead manufacturer even bothered to sell such a device last time.”

Alex Gangitano contributed.