President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans are planning to revoke the exemption President Joe Biden gave to California for Gov. Gavin Newsom's gas ban, using a former observational law called the Congressional Review Act.
As reported by Breitbart News, Newsom announced in September 2020 – just a few weeks after the statewide power shortage – California announced it would ban gas-powered passenger cars by 2035.
Newsom's policy was finalized in a regulatory form in 2022, and Biden granted the exemption in December 2024. It has been reported“With the grant of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency exemption, California will allow 35% of the new 2026 model cars sold in the state to request zero emissions, 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035.
Now, Trump and Republicans are trying to waive that right. Los Angeles Times It has been reported:
The Trump administration plans to escalate the fight against California for the future of US gas-powered vehicles, plan legislative operations with Republicans in Congress, and establish California with decades of authority in the nation's fuel economy standards.
Two Trump administration officials confirmed Wednesday that debate is underway about California's vast shaking over mileage standards, calling the Congressional Review Act to end California's exemption. The Review Act allows lawmakers to reverse government rules drafted within a given window in a simple majority. One California GOP lawmaker last month introduced a law to end federal exemptions.
Trump called the Clinton-era Congressional Review Act in 2017 to overturn many regulations put in place by the resignation of the Barack Obama administration, but it was not submitted to Congress for approval.
Democrats, According to New York Timesclaims that the act does not apply:[T]His California ban is not federal regulations, it's another animal. It is the result of a waiver granted by the Biden administration under the Clean Air Act of 1970, and has been done more than 100 times over the years by the administration of both parties. According to a 2023 decision by the Government Accountability Bureau, it will not be subject to parliamentary review. ”
As Breitbart News reports, Newsom is unlikely to reach its target by 2035 anyway, as EV sales are slow.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News; Breitbart News Sunday Sirius XM Patriot will be available Sundays from 7pm to 10pm (4pm to 7pm). He is the author of Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Daysyou can pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author Trump's Virtue: Lessons and Legacy of President Donald TrumpIt is now available on Audible. He is the winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpollak.
