US Senate Votes to Block California Emission Rules, Prompting State Lawsuit

The U.S. Senate voted to revoke the federal waivers that allowed California to enforce its own vehicle emission standards and electric vehicle mandates, a move that challenges the state's ambitious environmental policies and those of several other states following its lead. The waivers, reinstated by the EPA under the Biden administration, had supported California's Advanced Clean Trucks regulation and zero-emission vehicle sales goals, including a plan to phase out gasoline-only vehicles by 2035. The Senate's action, passed largely along party lines using the Congressional Review Act despite legal questions about its applicability, now awaits President Trump's expected signature, which would nullify these standards nationwide. California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, condemned the vote and announced plans to sue the federal government, asserting the move is politically motivated and harmful to public health and state sovereignty. The Republican Senate majority framed their decision as a defense of federal authority and criticized California's policies as overly restrictive, while environmental advocates warn this sets back efforts to combat pollution and climate change. The dispute underscores a broader national debate over state versus federal regulatory powers and the future of electric vehicle mandates in the U.S.