California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Thursday that the state will sue the Trump administration to maintain its authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards. This decision comes after Congress voted to overturn California’s plan to phase out gasoline-fueled cars and trucks. Bonta stated he would file the lawsuit once President Donald Trump approves the congressional decision. This legal action will be the twenty-third lawsuit Bonta has filed against the Trump administration this year.
California has long been at the forefront of environmental regulations, often setting stricter standards than those at the federal level. The state argues that its ability to set these standards is crucial for reducing emissions and combating climate change. The conflict centers around California’s waiver under the Clean Air Act, which allows the state to implement its own emissions standards. The reversal of this waiver by Congress threatens California’s ambitious goals to transition to electric vehicles.
According to Politico, this legal battle could have significant implications for the future of vehicle emissions regulations in the United States. The state’s determination to maintain its emissions standards highlights the ongoing tension between California’s environmental policies and federal regulations.
