California Plans Lawsuit After Senate Votes To Undo Emissions Rules

California officials, led by Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, announced plans to sue the Trump administration following the Senate's vote to rescind the state's waiver under the Clean Air Act that allowed California to enforce stricter emissions standards, including a ban on new gas-powered car sales by 2035. The Senate passed the measure using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which California argues is being misapplied since waivers are not regulations subject to CRA repeal, a position supported by the Senate parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office. California's Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, authorized by the EPA waiver in December, aim for zero-emission vehicle sales to reach 100% by 2035, a policy that influences about 11% of the U.S. car market and several other states that follow California’s standards. Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, claim the rules hurt automakers and traditional vehicle production, while Democrats accuse them of acting on behalf of the oil industry and infringing on states' rights. California emphasizes the public health and environmental benefits of its policies, which have significantly reduced vehicle pollution over decades, and views the federal action as illegal and harmful to its economy and environment. This lawsuit marks California's 23rd legal challenge against the Trump administration’s environmental policies, underscoring the ongoing conflict over federal versus state authority on clean air regulations.