Trump administration sues California over the state’s nation-leading vehicle-emission rules
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Trump administration on Thursday intensified its battle with California over national vehicle emissions standards, suing air regulators over rules aimed at reducing pollution from cars.
President Donald Trump has long fought California’s efforts to reduce tailpipe emissions and encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, and last summer he blocked the state’s first ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. He has also regularly criticized California’s highest gasoline prices, which are largely due to taxes and environmental regulations.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office blasted the lawsuit, noting that it comes as gas prices are soaring amid the Iran war and some drivers are considering going electric.
“Gas prices are skyrocketing across the country because of Trump’s reckless choices, and now he’s attacking the Golden State for trying to give Californians more freedom and cheaper options,” Newsom spokesman Anthony Martinez said in a statement.
It cost Californians an average of $5.37 per gallon Thursday to fill up at the pump, according to the American Automobile Association. This compares to a national average of $3.60 per gallon. Gas prices have increased about 56 cents per gallon statewide and 35 cents per gallon nationwide since last week, an increase of about 20 percent since the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel.
“It’s ironic that they’re doing this at a time when people are most worried about gas prices,” said Dan Farber, director of the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
After Trump blocked California’s strict electric vehicle mandates last year, the state quickly filed a lawsuit over the move. The California Air Resources Board then said standards previously adopted to address car emissions that pose climate and public health risks would remain in effect even if the state’s more ambitious rules remained blocked.
But the federal government said in its lawsuit that the state lacks the authority to enforce even its less stringent standards.
“Oppressive and costly electric vehicle mandates increase costs for American consumers and violate federal law,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
California, which has some of the worst air pollution in the country, has for decades been able to seek approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adopt emissions standards tougher than those of the federal government. Other states may adhere to California’s rules.
During Trump’s first term, his administration revoked this authority. The federal government restored California’s waiver authority in 2022 under Democratic President Joe Biden.
The Trump administration separately announced plans last year to weaken rules established under Biden regarding how far automakers’ new vehicles must travel on a gallon of gasoline.
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Weber reported from Los Angeles.
