Top federal official who led push for electric vehicle use to leave Biden administration
Ann Carlson, the acting administrator for the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is set to step down from her role on Dec. 26, 2023, and leave the agency at the end of January. This unexpected move was announced by Patrick Lally, the head of NHTSA’s governmental affairs office, in an internal agency memo obtained by Fox News Digital.
A DOT spokesperson praised Carlson’s tenure, noting that she had strengthened child seat standards, moved to require Automated Emergency Braking in vehicles, oversaw major recalls, held those who commit fraud accountable, and oversaw a decline in roadway fatalities for six straight quarters. Despite her success, Carlson’s tenure at NHTSA was time limited under the Vacancies Reform Act, and she will return to her previous role of senior advisor and Chief Counsel for one month to assist with the transition.
Carlson, who was previously an environmental law professor at UCLA, had been hired by the Biden-Harris transition team in January 2021 to serve as NHTSA’s chief counsel. In September 2022, she began serving as acting administrator, and in February 2023, President Biden nominated her to permanently lead NHTSA. However, her nomination was withdrawn in May following heavy opposition from Senate Commerce Committee Republicans over her past climate activism and support for regulations targeting gas-powered vehicles.
Despite the withdrawal of her nomination, Carlson continued to lead NHTSA in an acting role, drawing criticism from Republicans and energy advocates. Senate Republicans, including Ranking Member Ted Cruz, accused her of serving as acting administrator contrary to the law and attempting to rewrite auto fuel economy standards into an unpopular de facto EV mandate.
Cruz and Sen. Cynthia Lummis introduced a resolution in September to effectively defund Carlson and argued that her maintaining the position of acting administrator violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. They voiced concerns that her “extreme agenda and radical record” would lead to more mandates, higher costs for families, and a less vibrant economy.
Looking ahead, Republicans hope that President Biden will nominate someone with the requisite safety experience to lead NHTSA, rather than another individual with a radical, ‘Green New Deal’ activist agenda.