On Thursday, California officials submitted yet another lawsuit against the Trump administration, marking the 26th legal battle since the president’s resolution on electric vehicle (EV) regulations was signed. This ongoing conflict centers around the state’s efforts to enforce its own stringent regulations aimed at phasing out gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, emphasized that if the president tries to obstruct their clean air standards illegally, they would hold him accountable. “We are fulfilling that promise today,” he stated during the announcement. The lawsuit was filed in a Northern California court, backed by a coalition of states including Colorado, Delaware, and New Jersey, among others.
Bonta noted that the president’s resolution does not directly repeal California’s regulations but rather overturns the Biden administration’s authorization of such policies. This action utilized the Congressional Review Act (CRA), indicating a broader strategy to eliminate previously established regulations simply through majority votes.
“We refuse to weaken our authority under this unprecedented CRA,” Bonta remarked, asserting California’s right to enforce stricter standards due to provisions in the Clean Air Act, established in the 1970s when Los Angeles faced severe smog issues.
However, it’s worth mentioning that for California to apply these standards, it must first obtain exemptions from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Once approved, other states could follow suit and adopt similar regulations.
