The Trump administration sued California on Thursday, challenging the state's zero-emission vehicle and tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions rules. The U.S. Transportation Department filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in California, targeting both current and future clean car regulations that have been in place since 2012.
Key Takeaways
The Trump administration sued California over its zero-emission vehicle and tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions rules, claiming they are illegal and preempted by federal law. The lawsuit seeks to declare all zero-emission vehicle mandates in California unlawful and unenforceable.
- Trump administration files lawsuit against California Air Resources Board
- Lawsuit targets current and future clean car rules in the state
- California argues its rules protect consumers from high gasoline prices
- Clean air advocates criticize the new lawsuit as federal overreach
The lawsuit seeks a ruling declaring all zero-emission vehicle mandates by California unlawful and unenforceable. According to latimes.com, the Justice Department argues that California's emissions standards violate the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which requires uniform nationwide fuel-economy standards. Jonathan Morrison, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, stated that this litigation will help automakers design and produce cars to meet one federal regulation.
California won approval in 2022 from the Environmental Protection Agency for its current vehicle rules known as Advanced Clean Cars I. The state argues that these regulations have led to more fuel-efficient vehicles on the roads and are critical to meeting climate laws. A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom said the clean car rules protect consumers from high gasoline prices, which have spiked due to geopolitical factors.
The lawsuit is part of a series of efforts by the Trump administration to bar California from setting vehicle rules stricter than federal standards. In August, it sued California to stop the state from enforcing stringent emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks. The White House has also significantly weakened federal tailpipe rules and passed legislation to stop collecting penalties for not meeting vehicle tailpipe standards.
Clean air advocates criticized the new lawsuit. Bill Magavern, policy director with the Coalition for Clean Air, stated that these are standards that auto companies are already meeting. The California attorney general's office called the lawsuit 'federal overreach' and vowed to vigorously defend the state's efforts to reduce harmful pollution and protect public health.
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