EPA Announces Path Forward to Revamp the Clean School Bus Program to Provide Safe, Affordable, Efficient Transportation for America’s Youth
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the path forward to revamp the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program to provide school districts with increased choice and affordable options for school buses. By doing so, EPA will strengthen oversight and compliance actions in a way that aligns with President Trump’s Day One executive orders and ensure hard-earned American tax dollars are being put to the best use possible. The updates to the program will help bring back American auto jobs and unleash American energy production—key pillars to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative.
In line with the Trump EPA’s commitment to consumer choice, today the agency is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to seek feedback from fleet operators, manufacturers, school officials, and energy producers on a broad range of fuel options that school bus sectors could use. These fuel options include biofuels, compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas, and hydrogen. While the law has always allowed for these fuel options, the Biden Administration intentionally limited their availability to push the use of government subsidized electric buses. By providing more options to school districts, EPA will ensure they can purchase the right types of school buses for their specific needs. EPA intends to use the information gathered from the RFI and lessons learned from previous funding rounds to revamp the CSB program for the 2026 grant funding round. The public can expect this next round of funding to prioritize child safety, fiscal responsibility, and reliable buses worthy of their tax dollars for American schools—aspects that have all been lacking in previous rounds under the Biden Administration.
Additionally, EPA will not be awarding funds as part of the 2024 CSB Rebate Program. EPA thanks applicants for their interest and encourages them to apply for the new grant program. The agency will provide more details on the 2026 grants and eligibility requirements in the near future through a Notice of Funding Opportunity. EPA is committed to ensuring the CSB program delivers clean air for all Americans and fulfills the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment. Every taxpayer dollar spent through the CSB Program under the Trump EPA will strengthen school transportation reliability, invest in America’s children, and fulfill all statutory obligations.
EPA will hold a 45-day public comment period on the RFI, which will include an informational webinar on March 3, 2026, to help answer questions on the RFI. To comment on the RFI or register for the informational webinar, please visit: www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.
