President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday sued California, claiming the state’s zero-emission vehicle and tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions rules are illegal and pre-empted by federal law.
The U.S. Transportation Department sued the California Air Resources Board in U.S. District Court in California over vehicle rules that remain in place after Trump signed legislation last year to overturn California’s Advanced Clean Cars II rules that aim to phase out new gasoline-powered cars by 2035.
The lawsuit wants a ruling declaring that all zero-emission vehicle mandates by California are unlawful and unenforceable.
“This litigation will help automakers design and produce cars and trucks to meet one federal fuel economy regulation,” said Jonathan Morrison, who heads the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
California won approval in 2022 from the Environmental Protection Agency for its current vehicle rules known as Advanced Clean Cars I, which the state says remain in effect.
The California Air Resources Board declined comment. A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom said the lawsuit is meritless and the state will not back down.
He added as Americans face higher gasoline prices since the start of the Iran war, “the Trump administration sued California for advancing cleaner, cheaper cars that free drivers from the grip of foreign oil markets and the bad actors who stand to profit from global instability.”
