Trump Blocks California Gas Car Ban, Sparking Legal Showdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump signed a resolution overturning California’s 2035 ban on new gas-powered car sales. The move intensifies legal battles between his administration and California officials. Environmental groups and Democratic leaders decry the rollback as a win for Big Oil over public health.
Trump Blocks California Gas Car Ban – Quick Looks
- Trump signed three resolutions Thursday, reversing California’s bans on gas-powered vehicles and diesel trucks.
- The 2035 gas car ban was the nation’s most aggressive move toward vehicle electrification.
- California and other states plan to sue, calling the federal move illegal and environmentally harmful.
- Trump cited “freedom” in consumer choice, while dismissing EV reliability and praising Tesla.
- Auto industry groups applauded the rollback, calling the previous mandates “wildly unrealistic.”
- Environmentalists condemned the decision, accusing Trump of protecting Big Oil interests.
- The EPA also moved to repeal power plant emission limits, signaling a broader deregulatory push.
- California controls roughly 11% of the U.S. auto market, giving its policies national weight.
- The legality of using the Congressional Review Act to block California’s waivers remains contested.
- Newsom’s office called the decision another attack, vowing to “fight back” in federal court.
Deep Look: Trump Reverses California Gas Car Ban, Ignites Environmental and Legal Backlash
WASHINGTON — June 12, 2025 — President Donald Trump signed a sweeping measure Thursday overturning California’s ban on new gas-powered car sales by 2035, delivering a major blow to climate policy advocates and escalating his administration’s clash with the country’s most populous and environmentally progressive state.
In a White House ceremony laced with political theatrics and environmental skepticism, Trump invalidated three key regulations that sought to reshape America’s vehicle fleet: California’s future ban on gas-powered cars, rules curbing emissions from trucks, and limits on nitrogen oxide pollution.
“It’s been a disaster for this country,” Trump said of California’s rules. “What this does is it gives us freedom.”
The event also featured remarks from Bill Kent, a convenience store owner who opposed the costly infrastructure needed for EV support. Trump — while bashing electric vehicles — did offer an unexpected endorsement of Tesla, even as his relationship with Elon Musk remains fraught.
“I like Tesla,” Trump said. “But if you want to buy electric, you can buy electric. This is about choice.”
Legal Fallout Begins
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a vocal opponent of the rollback and rumored 2028 presidential hopeful, sharply condemned the move. His administration is preparing to sue the federal government, arguing that California’s waiver authority — long recognized under the Clean Air Act — cannot be overturned via the Congressional Review Act (CRA).
“If it’s a day ending in Y, it’s another day of Trump’s war on California,” said Newsom spokesperson Daniel Villaseñor.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is expected to announce legal action, citing the Government Accountability Office‘s determination that the CRA cannot legally block state-level standards like California’s emissions rules.
Auto Industry Divided
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing carmakers including Ford, GM, and Toyota, welcomed Trump’s action, calling California’s 2035 goal “unworkable.”
“Everyone agreed these EV sales mandates were never achievable and wildly unrealistic,” said CEO John Bozzella.
However, many automakers have already begun transitioning toward electric fleets, driven by global regulations and market trends, suggesting that California’s influence may persist even as federal policy shifts.
Climate Groups Sound Alarm
Environmental organizations blasted the repeal as a step backward in the fight against climate change, especially as scientists warn that transportation remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
“Trump’s latest betrayal of democracy,” said Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity, “is a gift to Big Oil and a threat to public health.”
The rollback comes just a day after the EPA proposed dismantling Obama-era rules that limited emissions from coal and gas power plants — further evidence of Trump’s aggressive deregulatory agenda.
California’s Outsized Role in Auto Policy
Despite accounting for just over 11% of U.S. auto sales, California’s environmental standards have historically shaped national trends, especially as dozens of states align with its policies.
Since the 1970s, California has enjoyed special permission from the EPA to enforce stricter rules than federal guidelines — a precedent that Trump revoked in 2019, only for President Biden to reinstate it in 2022.
The latest move marks Trump’s clearest attempt yet to undermine that authority without officially revoking the waiver — a subtle but significant legal gamble.
Can Trump Legally Block the Ban?
Legal experts are divided. The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to overturn federal regulations, but critics argue it doesn’t extend to state actions authorized under federal waivers.
Both the Senate parliamentarian and the GAO concluded earlier this year that California’s waiver cannot be overturned via CRA, setting up a likely courtroom showdown.
If successful, Trump’s strategy could cripple state-level environmental autonomy — if not, it risks reinforcing California’s legal right to chart its own climate course.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.