In a move drawing both praise and criticism, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order lifting federal water-pressure restrictions on showerheads, declaring it a win for everyday Americans frustrated by weak water flow.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump framed the decision as a rollback of “radical green regulations” that he claimed made basic household tasks unnecessarily difficult. “In my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair,” Trump said, adding, “I have to stand under the shower for 15 minutes till it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip. It’s ridiculous.”
The new directive instructs the Department of Energy to reverse efficiency standards that capped showerhead water flow at 2.5 gallons per minute—a rule first introduced under the Obama administration to conserve water and energy.
The White House called the executive order a move to “free Americans from excessive regulations” and took aim at what it labeled the “Obama-Biden war on showers.” The announcement was delivered with a signature Trump flair, echoing his past grievances about water pressure in toilets, dishwashers, and showers, often linking the issue back to personal grooming.
“My hair, I don’t know about you, but it has to be perfect, perfect,” Trump had said previously. “I use the best stuff, lather it all over, then I turn on the water and it just drips. I can’t get it out of my hair. It’s a horrible thing.”
However, environmental groups and energy-efficiency advocates have pushed back. The Appliance Standards Awareness Project emphasized that water-saving showerheads reduce utility bills and benefit the environment without compromising performance.
“Today’s showerheads provide excellent showers and save money and energy,” the group said in a 2024 report.
While the order may have pleased consumers frustrated with low-flow fixtures, it also reignited the ongoing debate between energy conservation and consumer comfort, making Trump’s latest policy reversal a hot-button issue once again—this time, in the bathroom.
