As California sues Trump, spearheading a group of states over his recent repeal of 2035 electric car regulations, the state’s battle to protect its climate legacy has grown more intense. The lawsuit reflects rising political tensions between environmental protection and federal deregulation.
With Trump vowing to rescue the auto industry from California’s “mandate madness,” the Golden State is pushing back to protect its vision of a greener future. At stake are the rules that would eliminate gasoline-only cars and reduce truck emissions in the next decade.
California Sues Trump over EV Mandate Repeal
California sues Trump in a lawsuit backed by 10 other states, including New York and Massachusetts, aiming to block his repeal of key environmental waivers. These waivers, originally issued under President Biden, granted California the authority to set stricter emissions rules, including its goal of making 80% of new cars electric by 2035.
The coalition argues that Congress rushed the repeal through, illegally bypassing standard procedures and threatening vital climate goals. Trump signed three Congressional resolutions that overturned California’s EV and diesel engine mandates, claiming it would “rescue the U.S. auto industry.”
However, California Governor Gavin Newsom criticised the move and accused Trump of destroying American clean air leadership. The plaintiffs directed this complaint against Trump, the EPA, and Lee Zeldin, the current administrator, and filed it in a California district court.
Trump’s Repeal Sparks EV Uproar
The automobile sector is divided over Trump’s decision. Companies like GM and Toyota welcomed the retreat, pointing to market constraints and high EV costs, while others claim it hurts long-term competition. Tesla, in particular, stands to lose significant value from its EV emissions credits.
Kim Newsom stressed that California’s regulations were about maintaining technical leadership as much as clean air. As part of a bigger Republican reaction against government green incentives, a House bill proposes abolishing EV tax credits and adding extra annual fees.
