Trump blocks California's gas car phaseout

The Hill

3 days ago

The Big Story
President Trump nixed California's phaseout of gas-powered cars on Thursday, setting off another legal fight with the Golden State.
© Getty
Trump signed a congressional resolution that overturns a California state rule that would have phased out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
The California rule and the decision to revoke it are a massive deal for the auto market.
The state makes up about 12 percent of the U.S. population. Its rule has also been adopted by 11 other states and Washington, D.C.
California says its rule would benefit both public health and the environment, reducing emissions that contribute to global warming and the amount of pollution its residents are exposed to. The state estimates its rule would prevent nearly 1,300 cardiopulmonary deaths between 2026 and 2040.
Trump on Thursday also signed resolutions that overturned separate California rules requiring most new trucks sold in the state to also be electric.
The Biden administration approved California's rule late last year, and that Biden-era approval is what is actually being revoked.
The Congressional Review Act (CRA) gives Congress, with presidential approval, the right to rescind recently passed regulations.
But the Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog, and the Senate parliamentarian both determined that the Biden-era approval was a waiver rather than a rule, and therefore the CRA does not apply.
The House voted to rescind the waiver regardless, and the Senate took procedural steps to sidestep those determinations by first voting on a 'point of order' as to whether waivers could be overturned by the CRA.
The decision comes with tensions at an all time high between California and the Trump administration after the president sent in the military over Los Angeles protests against his immigration policies.
Read more at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.
Essential Reads
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:
Senate Republicans eye public land sales in 'big, beautiful bill
The Senate version of President Trump's tax and spending bill seeks to sell off more than 2 million acres of federal lands to build affordable housing.
Trump: 'We're not going to approve windmills'
President Trump said Thursday that his administration would not approve wind energy except in cases of emergency.
California, coalition of states sue Trump over move to revoke EV mandate
California officials on Thursday filed their 26th lawsuit against the Trump administration, after the president signed resolutions overturning the Golden State's landmark electric vehicle (EV) mandate.
CDC backtracks, will rehire more than 450 people it laid off
Rehired workers are from four different operational divisions within the CDC: the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention; the National Center for Environmental Health; the Immediate Office of the Director; and the Global Health Center.
What We're Reading
News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Boil water advisory in effect for Northwest DC neighborhoods (WTOP)
Live in a hurricane-prone area? Here's how to prepare your home for flooding (NPR)
What Others are Reading
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
{section_2.content[0].title}
{section_2.content[0].description} Read more
{section_2.content[1].title}
{section_2.content[1].description} Read more
You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!