California, 10 Other States Sue Over U.S. Blocking Emissions Standards

California, along with 10 other states, have sued U.S. President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin over barring the state from enforcing its own vehicle emissions standards, reports Cal Matters.

Due to the high level of pollution in the state, Congress gave California the power to set its own vehicle standards in the 1967 Clean Air Act. As part of a mandate enacted in 2022, 35% of new 2026 model cars sold in the state would have to be zero-emissions, before increasing to 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035.

Last week, Trump signed measures revoking waivers that allowed California to set standards for phasing out gas-powered cars and diesel trucks, granted by the Biden administration. This comes after last month, when Congress used the Congressional Review Act to revoke the waivers.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta promptly responded with a lawsuit, and has been joined by 10 other states, including Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

Legal experts, the Government Accountability Office, and Senate Parliamentarian have argued that Congress does not have the authority to revoke waivers. In the suit, Bonta said it was an unlawful use of the review act.

Additionally, Governor Gavin Newsom has told the Air Resources Board to develop another mandate for vehicles, as well as keeping a public list of automakers abiding with California’s emissions rules. State agencies have also been instructed to provide data on what more can be done to assist consumers with transitioning to EVs within the next 60 days.