Trump Targets California Emissions Rules in New Measures \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump is expected to sign legislation blocking California’s ban on new gas-powered cars by 2035. The move targets the state’s aggressive vehicle emissions rules and sparks a legal challenge from Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump also aims to reverse broader tailpipe and truck emissions standards nationwide.
Quick Looks
- Trump to sign bill blocking California gas car ban
- Ban targeted California’s 2035 deadline to end gas car sales
- White House also overturning truck and diesel emissions policies
- Legal showdown brewing between Trump and Gov. Newsom
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin backs move to “unleash” energy
- Newsom vows legal action, calling it a federal overreach
- Congress used the Congressional Review Act to block rules
- Experts say the rules can’t legally be reversed this way
- Auto and trucking industries support Trump’s rollback
- Critics say it rewards Big Oil and hurts public health
Deep Look
President Donald Trump is set to sign a sweeping legislative package Thursday that targets California’s landmark environmental rules — including the state’s ambitious ban on new gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035. According to a senior White House official who spoke anonymously, the measures aim to eliminate California’s ability to chart its own course on vehicle emissions and fuel standards, potentially upending one of the country’s most aggressive climate policies.
The move marks another flashpoint in Trump’s longstanding feud with Democratic-led California and Governor Gavin Newsom. Their tensions have boiled over in recent weeks, particularly following Trump’s controversial deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles in response to immigration-related protests. Now, the environmental front is once again center stage.
“If it’s a day ending in Y, it’s another day of Trump’s war on California,” said Newsom spokesperson Daniel Villaseñor.
At the heart of Thursday’s signing is a congressional resolution to block California’s first-in-the-nation rule that would ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. The legislation also dismantles state regulations aimed at reducing tailpipe emissions and eliminating sales of medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks. Though the EPA has long allowed California to seek special waivers to enforce stricter emissions standards than the federal baseline, Trump is now poised to undo that autonomy.
The White House event will feature remarks by Trump and include appearances from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and industry leaders from the energy, gas, and automotive sectors.
The administration’s argument is rooted in deregulation and economic revival. According to Zeldin, the EPA’s parallel move to repeal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants will lift billions in regulatory costs from the energy industry. “It’s time to unleash American energy,” Zeldin said.
But California leaders, including Newsom, insist the federal government is violating state rights. The governor has vowed to sue the administration, calling the action illegal and detrimental to public health and environmental progress. Legal experts also weigh in, citing the Congressional Review Act (CRA) as an insufficient tool for overturning state-specific standards. Both the Government Accountability Office and the Senate parliamentarian have said the CRA cannot be legally used to nullify California’s independent emissions rules.
The political backdrop adds intensity to the issue. California represents about 11% of the U.S. car market, and its clean air regulations have often served as a benchmark for other states. More than a dozen states have adopted California’s 2035 timeline for phasing out internal combustion engine vehicles, creating a de facto national standard that automakers have begun to plan around.
Industry reactions have been mixed. The National Automobile Dealers Association and the American Trucking Associations applauded Trump’s move, saying it protects national economic interests and shields manufacturers from unworkable compliance deadlines.
“This is not the United States of California,” said Chris Spear, CEO of the American Trucking Associations. He called California’s vehicle rules “impractical” and praised Congress for stepping in.
General Motors also endorsed the administration’s actions, emphasizing the need for a unified federal standard. “We have long advocated for one national standard that allows us to stay competitive, invest in U.S. innovation, and offer customer choice across the broadest lineup of vehicles,” GM said in a statement.
However, environmental advocates warn that the rollback undermines progress on climate change and public health. Dan Becker, director at the Center for Biological Diversity, blasted the decision ahead of the signing. “This is Trump’s latest betrayal of democracy,” he said. “It’s a blatant abuse of power to reward Big Oil and Big Auto at the expense of Americans’ health and wallets.”
The broader implications go beyond California. By reversing the EPA’s emissions regulations and challenging state-level autonomy, Trump is charting a course that sharply contrasts with international climate goals and domestic efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Moreover, the rollback could inject uncertainty into the auto industry, which has already begun transitioning toward electric vehicles in response to global market pressures and climate imperatives. With a major U.S. state like California leading that charge, manufacturers were forced to adapt — and now may face conflicting regulatory landscapes depending on who holds the White House.
Trump’s environmental policy reversal arrives just as his campaign focuses on boosting American manufacturing and fossil fuel production. With energy, trucking, and automotive stakeholders lined up in support, the message is clear: deregulation is back, and California’s environmental leadership is under direct threat.
Whether California’s legal challenge can succeed remains to be seen. But as Trump continues reshaping the country’s environmental and energy policies, the battle between federal and state authority over climate action is set to intensify — with implications reaching far beyond 2035.
Trump Targets California
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