U.S. Senate Vote Blocks California’s Electric Vehicle Mandate
The U.S. Senate has voted to block California’s pioneering mandate to phase out gas-powered cars, marking a significant setback for the state’s efforts to combat air pollution and climate change. The decision, which follows a similar vote in the House last month, is expected to trigger a high-stakes legal battle between California and the Trump administration.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have vowed to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the move is an unlawful use of the Congressional Review Act. The act allows Congress to review regulations enacted by the previous administration, but experts say it does not apply to the waivers granted to California.
The Senate vote, which passed along party lines with 51 senators in favor and 44 against, targeted three waivers granted by the Biden administration that allowed California to implement its electric vehicle mandate, clean up diesel trucks, and reduce nitrogen oxides emissions from trucks and buses. These regulations are crucial to California’s efforts to improve air quality, particularly in regions like the Los Angeles basin and San Joaquin Valley, which suffer from some of the worst air pollution in the nation.
Residents in inland parts of the LA basin breathe unhealthful air more than 100 days a year. The decision to block California’s mandate could have far-reaching consequences for the state’s ability to meet federal health standards for smog and soot, potentially triggering economic penalties, including the loss of highway funding.
California’s electric vehicle mandate requires 35% of new 2026 model cars sold in the state to be zero-emissions, ramping up to 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035. The state has been a leader in clean air policies, and its standards have been adopted by 11 other states and Washington, D.C.
The blocked regulations are designed to eliminate tons of soot and gases from cars and diesel trucks by requiring manufacturers to switch to cleaner vehicle technologies. Heavy-duty trucks are a major source of soot and smog in the region, and the transition to zero-emission vehicles is critical to meeting California’s targets to phase out nearly all fossil fuels and achieve carbon-neutrality by 2045.
The Senate’s decision has been met with strong criticism from environmental advocates and lawmakers, who argue that it is a major blow to public health protections and will have significant environmental and health consequences. Will Barrett, senior director for nationwide clean air advocacy at the American Lung Association, called it “a major blow to the decades-long public health protections delivered under the Clean Air Act.”
In response to the vote, California officials may now have to rely on voluntary efforts to clean up cars and diesel trucks, such as offering financial incentives or rebates to manufacturers and consumers. However, with the state facing a $12 billion deficit, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain.
The legal battle ahead is expected to center on whether Congress can use the Congressional Review Act to block the waivers granted to California. Experts say that the act does not apply to the waivers, and that Congress is overstepping its authority.
“We’re just in a completely new territory…Congress seems to be willing to use a statute that doesn’t apply, which is highly unusual. We’ve never seen this before,” said Ann Carlson, a law professor at UCLA.
The outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications not just for California, but for other states that have adopted similar clean air policies. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fight for cleaner air and a more sustainable future is far from over.
