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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has unveiled a new proposal aimed at protecting what he calls Americans' right to drive "Freedom Cars"—a term that appears to be making its first appearance in federal transportation policy.
The phrase appeared in a July 22 letter seen by Newsweek from Duffy to key congressional committee leaders. The letter outlined the Trump administration's priorities for a major surface transportation reauthorization bill ahead of a September 30 funding deadline, covering everything from highway expansion and automated vehicles to bike lanes and transit funding.
Under the proposal, federal law would prohibit any federal, state, tribal or local government from requiring that vehicles be equipped with automated driving systems or have the capability to transmit data wirelessly.
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Newsweek reached out to the Department of Transportation via email for comment.
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What Is a 'Freedom Car'?
Despite the branding, "Freedom Cars" are not actual cars. The term refers to a proposed consumer-rights protection that would prevent governments from requiring motorists to own connected or self-driving vehicles.
The term appears in a section of Duffy's letter titled "Freedom Car Right to Drive Disconnected and Non-Automated," which would prohibit governments from requiring vehicles to be equipped with automated driving systems or capable of transmitting data wirelessly.
The letter states that the aim is to "prohibit any Federal, State, tribal, or local authority from mandating that vehicles sold or operated on public roads be equipped with automated driving systems or be capable of transmitting data wirelessly."
The proposal is part of a broader section called "Protecting Consumer Choice," where Duffy argues that Americans should retain the ability to purchase and operate traditional vehicles even as the auto industry develops more advanced autonomous-driving technologies.
The term "Freedom Car" appears to follow a familiar pattern in Trump administration rhetoric. Just as supporters have used the phrase "freedom fuel" to describe policies favoring consumer choice in energy markets, Duffy's proposal frames traditional, driver-controlled vehicles as a matter of personal freedom rather than technology policy.
Why Sean Duffy Says Freedom Cars Are Needed
The Freedom Car proposal arrives alongside another major priority in Duffy's transportation package: accelerating the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles.
The administration is simultaneously calling for expanded testing programs for self-driving cars, the removal of federal deployment caps and new regulatory frameworks designed specifically for driverless vehicles.
Duffy argues the United States must continue leading the global race for autonomous vehicle technology or risk falling behind foreign competitors.
At the same time, the administration says consumers should not be required to adopt those technologies.
The proposal therefore attempts to strike a balance: encourage innovation in self-driving vehicles while ensuring Americans can continue buying cars that are not automated and are not required to wirelessly transmit their transport information.
How the Proposal Fits Into Trump's Transportation Agenda
The Freedom Car language is only one part of a sweeping transportation blueprint that Duffy says will help usher in what the administration calls a "Golden Age of Transportation."
Other recommendations include expanding and completing portions of the Interstate Highway System, supporting permanent daylight saving time and eliminating or scaling back several Biden-era transportation and climate-related programs.
The package is not yet law and would require congressional approval as part of the upcoming transportation reauthorization debate.
Could Freedom Cars Become Federal Policy?
For now, the idea remains a legislative proposal rather than an enacted policy. Congress would need to incorporate the language into a transportation funding package before it could take effect.
Whether "Freedom Car" becomes a lasting political slogan remains to be seen, but its inclusion in Duffy's transportation blueprint signals that the administration wants the concept to play a role in the next phase of the national debate over self-driving vehicles, connected-car technology and the future of American transportation.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Daniel Orton and Emma Lee-Sang
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