President Donald Trump issued pardons to 11 men on Friday, signing the clemency orders on the eve of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.
Two of the pardoned men had been convicted of fraud. The remaining nine faced federal charges under the Clean Air Act for disabling emissions controls on diesel trucks — a practice regulators have linked to elevated pollution levels.
The pardons land as the administration has moved to roll back a range of federal environmental enforcement actions. The Clean Air Act charges stem from the use of so-called defeat devices, which suppress emissions systems required under federal law.
The White House did not release a statement explaining the selection of the 11 men or the choice of date. The Guardian reported the pardons Friday, citing the official clemency actions.
Trump has issued pardons at a higher rate than his predecessors during comparable periods in office, with several grants targeting individuals convicted or charged in cases that drew conservative media attention.
The full list of pardoned individuals was expected to be published in the Federal Register in coming days.