U.S. Senate Blocks California’s Electric Vehicle Mandate
The U.S. Senate has blocked California’s pioneering mandate to phase out gas-powered cars, dealing a significant blow to the state’s efforts to transition to electric vehicles. This move is seen as a pointed rebuke of Democratic climate change policies.
The Republican-led Senate revoked a waiver that was instituted under former President Joe Biden, allowing California to set aside national pollution standards for cars and establish its own more stringent regulations. The waiver was crucial for California’s plans to reduce emissions and promote electric vehicles.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the Senate’s decision, stating it was a “big day for big oil, big day for GM and Toyota, big day for China. Terrible day for your kids, terrible day for air quality, terrible day for innovation and entrepreneurship.” The state’s liberal government has announced plans to sue President Donald Trump’s administration over the decision.
The mandate in question required a third of new 2026 model cars sold in California to be zero-emission, rising to two-thirds in 2030 and 100 percent in 2035. Republicans argue that this mandate is costly, unworkable, and infringes upon consumer choice. Utah Senator Mike Lee stated, “California got special permission from the Biden administration to ban gas-powered cars. Because of their market share, this would impact the entire nation.”
However, Democrats contend that the Senate’s move was illegal, as nonpartisan watchdogs, including the Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian, have stated that the Congressional Review Act cannot be applied to waivers. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has pledged to sue, saying, “The president and his administration are attempting to trample on our authority to maintain long-standing clean vehicle standards and keep our air breathable.”
The decision has significant implications for the future of electric vehicles in the United States. Despite former President Trump’s criticism of electric vehicles during his re-election campaign, he has shown support for the sector in certain instances, such as promoting Elon Musk’s Tesla at the White House.
U.S. electric vehicle sales reached 1.3 million units last year, a 7.3 percent increase from 2023, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book. However, automakers have recently scaled back investments due to slowing demand growth.
The Senate’s decision to block California’s electric vehicle mandate has sparked a contentious debate about climate change policies, consumer choice, and state versus federal regulatory powers.
